Return, Reclamation, Rehabilitation

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Return, Reclamation, Rehabilitation
Retour, Réclamation et Réhabilitation
LeadersSidiki Abbas (until 2021)
General Bobbo (March 2021 –)[1][2]
Dates of operation2015–
HeadquartersKoui (2015–21)
Abba (2020)
Besson (2021–)[3]
Active regionsNortwestern part of Central African Republic
Size1,700+ (Ouham)[4]
Part ofCoalition of Patriots for Change (since 2020)
OpponentsCentral African Republic FACA
United Nations MINUSCA
Anti-balaka (former)
  Territories under control of 3R

Return, Reclamation, Rehabilitation (3R, French: Retour, Réclamation et Réhabilitation) is a rebel group in the northwestern part of Central African Republic which is responsible for multiple war crimes. Its leader is currently sanctioned by US.

Timeline of insurgency[]

3R was formed in December 2015 to protect Fulani herders from Anti-balaka attacks. On 27 September 2016 they captured De Gaulle town (now Koui) killling at least 17 civilians.[5] On 2 May they captured Niem in Koui sub-prefecture.[6] On 23 September 2017 they captured Bocaranga from Anti-balaka.[7] They handed it over to FACA on 7 January 2019.[8]

On 1 May 2020 3R took control of Baboua,[9] withdrawing from it four days later.[10] On 13 May 3R disarmed local gendarmerie seizing Besson and Koundé[11] On 27 May 3R took control of Koundjili in Ouham-Pende. Local population fled to bush.[12] On 6 June 3R withdrew from Central African peace agreement.[13] On 30 June Bangladeshi paratroopers from MINUSCA attacked 3R in Koui.[14] On 22 July MINUSCA forces recaptured Niem from 3R forces,[15] followed by Besson (28 July[16]) and Koui (17 August[17]). On 19 August they moved its headquarters to Abba.[18] On 17 September they captured four villages in Bimbo sub-prefecture near Paoua.[19] On 27 September they took control of Boguila, followed by Nana-Bakassa on 7 October.[20]

On 17 December 2020 3R joined Coalition of Patriots for Change.[21] On April 2, 2021, a statement from the 3R revealed that Sidiki Abbas had died on March 25, from injuries he sustained during an attack in the town of Bossembélé in November 2020.[1]

War crimes[]

On 21 May 2019 3R fighters killed 46 unarmed civilians in Ouham-Pendé prefecture[22] On 13 July an UN peacekeeper was killed and two others wounded in an ambush set up by the 3R militia.[23] On 19 July they attacked Ngbama village near Bocaranga kidnapping 40 people and stealing 50 million CFA francs.[24]

Kidnappings[]

On 7 September 2020 3R kidnapped two policemen in Bang village near border with Cameroon.[25] On 27 September they kidnapped another law enforcement officer.[26] On 5 December 3R freed three of the hostages after negotiations with MINUSCA.[27]

Voter indimidation[]

3R banned voter registration for incoming elections from taking place in Koui and Ngaoundaye.[28]

Use of land mines[]

On 28 September 2020 3R placed land mines on a bridge in Moumdji near Bocaranga and set up checkpoint demanding payment for crossing the river.[29] Rwandan peacekeepers removed them on 2 October.[30]

International reactions[]

On August 7, 2020 Abbas Sidiki, 3R's leader, was sanctioned by the United States government under Executive Order 13667[31] and listed in the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List.[32]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "RCA : les cadres du mouvement armée 3R annonce bizarrement la mort du sulfureux chef rebelle Abbas Sidiki" (in French). 2 April 2021.
  2. ^ RCA : le parquet général annonce l’arrestation du général Bobo, successeur d’Abbas Sidiki et ses trois complices, 15 April 2021
  3. ^ Centrafrique : « Assassinat du Maire de De Gaulle »: le général Bobo de 3R accuse les mercenaires russes de Touadéra et exige la mise en place d’une enquête internationale, 17 June 2021
  4. ^ RCA : le 3R lance à nouveau un ultimatum à la Minusca, « pas d’élections à Ngaoundaye »
  5. ^ "Central African Republic: Mayhem by New Group". 20 December 2016.
  6. ^ Amnesty International: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC 2017/2018
  7. ^ "Centrafrique : Bocaranga, sous contrôle des rebelles de 3R". 23 September 2017.
  8. ^ "Centrafrique : l'armée reprend peu à peu ses dispositions d'avant la crise". 9 January 2019.
  9. ^ "RCA : inquiétante montée en puissance du chef rebelle Abbas Sidiki". 2 May 2020.
  10. ^ "RCA : Baboua, une ville fantôme abandonnée aux rebelles de 3R". 5 May 2020.
  11. ^ "RCA : le chef rebelle Abbas Sidiki en fuite, fait son retour en force dans le maquis". 14 May 2020.
  12. ^ "RCA : Ouham-Péndé, panique au village Koundili, les rebelles de 3R occupent à nouveau le village". 28 May 2020.
  13. ^ Rebel group suspends participation in C.Africa peace pact
  14. ^ "RCA : attaque de Bocaranga, la Minusca lance une vaste opération contre le 3R à koui". 30 June 2020.
  15. ^ MINUSCA [@UN_CAR] (22 July 2020). "#CAR: The 'Ala Londo' military operation continues in the Northwest. To date, #MINUSCA peacekeepers have regained control of NIEM (Nana-Mambéré) chasing the 3R elements who avoided combat" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  16. ^ "Centrafrique : Besson reprise des mains des "3R" déclare la MINUSCA". 28 July 2020.
  17. ^ "RCA: la ville de Koui désormais sous-contrôle total des casques bleus et des FACA". 18 August 2020.
  18. ^ "RCA : Aba, nouveau bastion de 3R dans le Nord-ouest". 19 August 2020.
  19. ^ "RCA : présence massive des éléments rebelles de 3R signalée dans les localités de Paoua". 19 September 2020.
  20. ^ "RCA : panique à Nanga Boguila, les 3R occupent la ville depuis plusieurs jours, les populations paniquées". 7 October 2020.
  21. ^ Centrafrique : Déclaration de la Coalition des Patriotes pour le Changement, 18 December 2020
  22. ^ "Central African Republic: Armed Group Kills 46 Civilians". 18 July 2019.
  23. ^ "CAR rebel ambush kills UN peacekeeper; two injured".
  24. ^ "RCA : des commerçants et humanitaires braqués par les rebelles de 3R, plus de 50 millions FCFA emportés". 19 July 2020.
  25. ^ "RCA : un élément de la police et son auxiliaire enlevé à bang par les éléments de 3R". 7 September 2020.
  26. ^ RCA : un auxiliaire de la gendarmerie kidnappé par les 3R dans la localité de Paoua
  27. ^ RCA : libération des trois éléments des FDSI capturés par les 3R
  28. ^ Central African Republic: 3R Rebels In Accused Of Perturbing Electoral Registration
  29. ^ "RCA : axe Bocaranga – Bouar bloqué, les 3R auraient miné le pont de Moumdji". 1 October 2020.
  30. ^ "RCA : Bocaranga, retour à la normale sur le pont de Moumdji". 2 October 2020.
  31. ^ "Treasury Sanctions Militia Leader in Central African Republic for Human Rights Abuse". U.S. Department of the Treasury. 2020-08-07.
  32. ^ "Hong Kong-related Designations; Central African Republic Designation". U.S. Department of the Treasury. 2020-08-07.
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