AGP Executive Report

Northeast Security: Sudan’s war is fuelling armed-group activity in Vakaga, a report warns, putting local livelihoods and security gains at risk. It urges Bangui to strengthen protection and prevent CAR territory being used to supply Sudan’s paramilitaries. Industrial Investment: At the Russia–Africa summit, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra called for cooperation in agriculture, mineral extraction and processing, solar energy, transport links, digital technology and skills training. He urged a shift from exporting raw materials to building local production; the speech outlined priorities, not confirmed project deals. Flood and Drought Readiness: A five-year, US$11.7 million regional programme will improve monitoring and early warnings in CAR and four Lake Chad Basin countries, with potential benefits for farmers, herders and other communities whose livelihoods depend on water. Mineral Mapping: Russian state geological company Rosgeologiya has pursued mapping work in CAR, as a new deal in Mali highlights growing competition to map Africa’s mineral resources. Small-Scale Enterprise: In Cameroon, more than 135 Central African refugees have received or are undertaking vocational and business training. Organisers are exploring ways to help artisans expand production and reach wider markets.

Industrial Push: At the Russia-Africa summit, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra called for cooperation in agriculture, mineral processing, energy, transport, digital technology and local manufacturing, saying the focus should shift from security support to projects that create jobs and value in the Central African Republic. Climate Resilience: A five-country Lake Chad Basin initiative, backed by an $11.7 million grant, will improve flood and drought monitoring and early warnings for communities, farmers, herders and fishers, including in CAR. Mining Data: Russia’s geological company has undertaken or pursued mapping work in CAR as foreign firms compete to chart Africa’s mineral wealth—data that could shape exploration and investment. Natural Assets: CAR is among 13 countries covered by a three-year, $4.23 million African Development Fund project to bring natural-capital data into economic planning and financing decisions.

Climate and Agriculture: A five-year, US$11.7 million Lake Chad Basin project will improve flood and drought monitoring for the Central African Republic and four neighboring countries, helping farmers, herders and fishers prepare earlier. Mining and Geology: As Russia and other powers compete to map Africa’s mineral wealth, reporting notes that Russian geological surveys have already covered or pursued projects in the CAR. Better data could shape future exploration and investment. Forest Economy: Congo Basin civil society groups, including CAR representatives, met in Libreville to press governments for action on forest protection, community rights and access to climate finance. Natural Capital: The CAR is one of 13 countries in a new African Development Bank initiative to bring the value of forests, water and other natural assets into economic planning. Resource Deals: Wagner remains active in the CAR, where reporting links its business to natural-resource agreements involving deposits including uranium, diamonds and cobalt.

Russia and Resources: As the Russia-Africa summit opens in Moscow, reporting highlights Wagner’s continuing role in the Central African Republic: the group is paid to guard President Faustin-Archange Touadéra and has resource deals involving uranium, diamonds and other minerals. Natural Capital: A $4.23 million African Development Fund grant will help 13 countries, including the CAR, factor forests, water and other natural assets into economic planning and development finance. Congo Basin Forests: Civil society groups from six countries, including the CAR, are meeting in Libreville to press for stronger forest protection, environmental justice and community involvement in decisions over the region’s resources. Jobs and Investment: A new analysis argues that reconstruction and decent-job creation are essential to lasting stability in Central Africa, where 79% of CAR employment is vulnerable or informal. Reliable energy could also support tourism and jobs around shared natural attractions such as the Sangha Trinational Landscape.

Congo Basin: Civil society groups from the Central African Republic and five neighboring countries meet in Libreville on Oct. 28–29 to press for action on forest protection, community rights and access to climate finance. Green Finance: The African Development Bank has launched a three-year, $4.23 million project to bring natural-asset data into development planning across 13 countries, including the CAR. Forestry: A report traces how a 186,596-hectare Lobaye forest concession was allegedly granted to a Wagner-linked company in return for services, highlighting the risks of opaque resource deals. Local Livelihoods: Deforestation around Boali is lowering water levels and reducing fish catches in the Mbali River, squeezing fishermen and market sellers as demand grows.

Congo Basin Forum: Central African civil society groups will join a 28–29 October conference in Libreville with peers from five other countries, pressing governments to turn forest commitments into action and give local communities a stronger voice in climate-finance decisions. Natural Capital: The Central African Republic is among 13 countries set to receive support through a three-year, $4.23 million African Development Fund-backed project to bring the value of forests, water and other natural assets into economic planning. Forest Livelihoods: Deforestation around Boali is lowering water levels and reducing fish stocks in the Mbali River, squeezing a key source of income and food as charcoal production expands. Timber Concession: An investigation says a forestry permit covering nearly 187,000 hectares in Lobaye was granted to a company linked to Wagner, allegedly in return for the group’s services to the government.

Environmental Crime: A UN vote opened negotiations on a global protocol targeting illicit timber and mineral trade, a potential new tool against resource trafficking affecting the Central African Republic. Forest Livelihoods: In Boali, deforestation for charcoal is lowering water levels and harming fish stocks in the Mbali River, cutting into fishermen’s incomes and reducing market supply. Resource Deals: An investigation says CAR awarded Wagner-linked firm Bois Rouge a 186,596-hectare forestry concession in 2021 in exchange for services by the Russian group. Separate reports describe Wagner-linked gold operations, raising questions about how much resource wealth reaches the country.

Environmental Crime: UN members voted 83–12 to begin negotiating a global protocol targeting illicit timber, mineral, wildlife and waste trade. Any rules would depend on countries ratifying the treaty, which is still to be drafted. Telecoms: Maroc Telecom’s Moov Africa subsidiaries grew revenue 6.9% to MAD 15.18 billion in the third quarter, with the group citing stronger data use; results do not break out the Central African Republic. Forestry & Mining: An investigation says CAR granted Bois Rouge a 186,596-hectare forest permit in Lobaye in 2021, allegedly in exchange for Wagner services. The company had not logged before receiving the concession. Fishing: Around Boali, tree-cutting for charcoal is lowering water levels and harming fish stocks, squeezing fishermen’s incomes and leaving local markets short. Security: Pakistan urged adequate funding for MINUSCA, warning that Sudan’s conflict and insecurity along CAR’s borders threaten hard-won stability.

Investment: Indonesia–Central Africa trade talks generated a reported US$60 million in potential deals, including a proposed US$10 million tapioca and biogas facility in the Central African Republic. Forestry: An investigation says a 186,596-hectare forest permit was granted to a Wagner-linked company in exchange for military services, raising questions about resource oversight and the conversion of security influence into commercial access. Fisheries: In the southwest, deforestation linked to charcoal production is lowering water levels and reducing fish stocks in the Mbali River, squeezing local fishers and market sellers.

Regional Health Risk: The DRC’s Ebola outbreak has reached Nord Ubangi, which borders the Central African Republic, with more than 9,500 reported cases and 4,600 deaths. A vaccine trial is awaiting final clearances. Fuel Costs: Higher pump prices have raised transport and food costs in CAR. Five organisers of an October 12 shutdown protest remain detained, as civil society groups demand their release. Investment: Indonesia-Central Africa trade talks produced a proposed US$10 million tapioca and biogas plant in CAR, alongside deals for projects in Cameroon. Forestry and Fisheries: Reporting links a 186,596-hectare Lobaye forestry concession to services provided by Wagner, while deforestation around Boali is lowering river levels and reducing fish catches—threatening local livelihoods and food supply.

Fuel Costs: Higher pump prices in the Central African Republic are squeezing transport and food businesses. Five civil society leaders who called for a Bangui shutdown over the increases remain in custody, with officials accusing them of links to opposition parties. Agro-industry Investment: Indonesian firm PT Asindo Tech signed a deal to build a tapioca and biogas facility in the CAR, part of US$60 million in potential deals with Central African countries. Forestry: An investigation says a 186,596-hectare forest concession in Lobaye was granted to a Wagner-linked company in 2021 in exchange for services, raising questions about how forest resources are managed. Fisheries: On the Mbali River, deforestation for charcoal production is lowering water levels and reducing fish catches, hurting fishermen and market sellers around Boali.

Agro-Industry Investment: An Indonesian company agreed to a potential US$10 million deal to build a tapioca and biogas plant in the Central African Republic, part of US$60 million in prospective deals with Cameroon and other Central African nations. Fuel Costs: Higher pump prices are adding to transport and food costs in Bangui, where shortages are already worsened by security and logistics problems. Authorities have detained five organisers of a protest against the increases. Forestry & Fisheries: In the southwest, deforestation driven partly by charcoal production is lowering water levels and reducing fish stocks in the Mbali River, hurting fishermen and market sellers. Resource Governance: An investigation says a 186,596-hectare forestry permit in Lobaye was granted to a company linked to Wagner in exchange for the group’s services, raising questions about how forest resources are managed.

Investment: Indonesia-Central Africa trade talks produced a planned US$10 million facility in the Central African Republic, part of a broader package of potential deals announced after Trade Expo Indonesia. Details of the CAR project were not disclosed. Fuel Costs: Higher pump prices are raising transport and food costs in Bangui, compounding supply and logistics problems. Authorities have detained five organisers of protests against the increases. Forestry: A 186,596-hectare timber concession in Lobaye was granted to Bois Rouge, a company that had never logged trees; US Treasury records linked the permit to services provided by Wagner forces. Fisheries: In the southwest, charcoal-driven deforestation is lowering water levels and worsening conditions for fish in the Mbali River, cutting catches and hurting local fishing livelihoods.

Regional Water and Energy: At the Luanda Biennial on October 22–23, DRC President Félix Tshisekedi highlighted the Ubangi Basin, shared with the Central African Republic, as a resource for hydropower, farming, river transport, fishing and drinking water—opportunities that depend on cooperation among neighboring states. Fisheries and Forests: In Boali, fishermen report shrinking catches on the Mbali River as charcoal production drives deforestation, lowering water levels and harming fish breeding. The decline threatens incomes and local food supplies. Trade and Processing: Indonesia recorded potential deals with Central African nations, including a proposed US$10 million tapioca and biogas plant in the CAR. Fuel Costs: Higher pump prices are adding to transport and food costs; authorities have detained five organizers of protests against the increases. Forestry and Mining: Reports say a timber concession in Lobaye was granted to a Wagner-linked company in 2021, while newer investigations describe the group’s continued commercial interests in the country, including gold mining. These arrangements raise questions about who benefits from resource extraction.

Forestry: A new investigation says CAR granted Bois Rouge, a company linked to Wagner, a 186,596-hectare forest concession in Lobaye in 2021 in return for military services. The company had no logging record, and the report says timber proved a poor source of revenue. Fishing and livelihoods: Around Boali, residents say charcoal-driven deforestation is lowering water levels and reducing fish stocks in the Mbali River, cutting into income and local food supplies. Investment: Indonesia’s Asindo Tech plans to build a US$10 million tapioca and biogas facility in CAR under deals announced at Trade Expo Indonesia; the project’s location and timeline were not specified. Fuel costs: After pump prices rose, transport and food costs also increased. Authorities detained five organisers of a Bangui shutdown protest, accusing them of links to opposition parties.

Investment: Indonesia’s Trade Expo generated a potential US$10 million deal for a facility in the Central African Republic, part of US$60 million in prospective agreements with Cameroon and other Central African countries. Forestry: An investigation says a 186,596-hectare concession in Lobaye was awarded to Wagner-linked Bois Rouge in 2021 in exchange for services, although the company had never logged timber. Fisheries: Deforestation around Boali is lowering water levels and worsening conditions in the Mbali River, leaving fishers with smaller catches and shrinking incomes. Fuel Costs: Recent pump-price increases have raised transport and food costs; five organisers of a Bangui protest against the hikes remain in custody.