Coalition of Patriots for Change
{{Short description|Rebel groups in the Central African Republic}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Copyedit|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox militant organization
| name = Coalition of Patriots for Change
| native_name = Coalition des patriotes pour le changement
| native_name_lang = fr
| image = CPClogo.png
| caption = Logo of the group
| battles = Central African Republic Civil War
Sudanese civil war (2023–present)
- Battle of Nyala{{cite web|url=https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/2112058/n2412413.pdf|title=Letter dated 5 June 2024 from the Panel of Experts on the Central African Republic extended pursuant to resolution 2693 (2023) addressed to the President of the Security Council}}
| active = 2020–present
| leaders = François Bozizé
| clans =
| headquarters = Bossangoa, Ouham (2020 – February 2021)
Markounda, Ouham (February 2021)[https://corbeaunews-centrafrique.com/rca-reprise-de-la-ville-de-bossangoa-par-les-faca-les-rebelles-se-retirent/ RCA : reprise de la ville de Bossangoa par les FACA, les rebelles se retirent] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225124238/https://corbeaunews-centrafrique.com/rca-reprise-de-la-ville-de-bossangoa-par-les-faca-les-rebelles-se-retirent/ |date=25 February 2021 }}, 24 February 2021
Kabo, Ouham (March 2021–April 2021)[https://www.radiondekeluka.org/actualites/securite/36634-centrafrique-l-ancien-president-bozize-vu-a-kabo-dans-le-nord.html Centrafrique: l’ancien président Bozizé vu à Kabo dans le Nord ?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301160900/https://www.radiondekeluka.org/actualites/securite/36634-centrafrique-l-ancien-president-bozize-vu-a-kabo-dans-le-nord.html |date=1 March 2021 }}, 1 March 2021
Koumra, Chad (June 2021)[https://ndjonisango.com/2021/06/08/rca-gravement-malade-le-chef-rebelle-francois-bozize-se-soigne-a-koumra-au-tchad/ RCA: gravement malade, le chef rebelle François Bozizé se soigne à Koumra au Tchad] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610123530/https://ndjonisango.com/2021/06/08/rca-gravement-malade-le-chef-rebelle-francois-bozize-se-soigne-a-koumra-au-tchad/ |date=10 June 2021 }}, 8 June 2021
N'Djamena, Chad (since July 2021)[https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20211106-françois-bozizé-et-d-autres-chefs-rebelles-centrafricains-se-trouvent-à-ndjamena François Bozizé et d'autres chefs rebelles centrafricains se trouvent à Ndjamena], 7 November 2021
| area = Central African Republic
| merger =
| size =
| partof =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| allies = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Rapid Support Forces (Sudan).png}} Rapid Support Forces
| opponents = {{flagicon|CAR}} FACA
{{flagicon|UN}} MINUSCA
{{RUS}}
{{flag|Rwanda}}
{{flag|Sudan}}
| identification_symbol =
| identification_symbol_label =
| identification_symbol_2 =
| identification_symbol_2_label =
| website = https://www.facebook.com/DEBOUTCPC/
}}
The Coalition of Patriots for Change ({{langx|fr|Coalition des patriotes pour le changement}}; CPC) is a coalition of major rebel groups in the Central African Republic created in 2020 to disrupt the 2020–21 Central African Republic general election.{{cite news|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/12/19/armed-rebel-groups-in-c-africa-form-coalition|title=CAR says ex-president attempting 'coup' as rebels form coalition|date=19 December 2020|access-date=17 January 2021|archive-date=27 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201227142533/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/12/19/armed-rebel-groups-in-c-africa-form-coalition|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-55376322|title=François Bozizé: CAR accuses former president of 'attempted coup'|publisher=BBC|website=BBC.co.uk/News|date=19 December 2020|access-date=20 December 2020|archive-date=20 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201220051016/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-55376322|url-status=live}}
Background
On 3 December 2020, the Constitutional Court of the Central African Republic rejected the candidature of former president François Bozizé in the upcoming presidential elections.{{cite news|url=https://corbeaunews-centrafrique.com/rca-presidentielle-du-27-decembre-la-cour-constitutionnelle-publie-la-liste-definitive-des-candidats/|title=RCA : présidentielle du 27 décembre, la Cour Constitutionnelle publie la liste définitive des candidats|date=3 December 2020|access-date=17 January 2021|archive-date=27 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201227133322/https://corbeaunews-centrafrique.com/rca-presidentielle-du-27-decembre-la-cour-constitutionnelle-publie-la-liste-definitive-des-candidats/|url-status=live}} On 4 December, Bozizé met with Mahamat al-Khatim, leader of the rebel group Central African Patriotic Movement (MPC), in Kaga-Bandoro before leaving for his stronghold, Bossangoa.{{cite news|url=https://corbeaunews-centrafrique.com/rca-retranchement-de-lancien-president-francois-bozize-a-bossangoa-des-rumeurs-de-coup-detat-enflent-a-bangui/|title=RCA : retranchement de l'ancien Président François Bozizé à Bossangoa, des rumeurs de coup d'État enflent à Bangui|date=14 December 2020|access-date=17 January 2021|archive-date=18 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210218114545/https://corbeaunews-centrafrique.com/rca-retranchement-de-lancien-president-francois-bozize-a-bossangoa-des-rumeurs-de-coup-detat-enflent-a-bangui/|url-status=live}}
History
On 15 December 2020, major rebel groups in the Central African Republic including Anti-balaka, UPC, FPRC, 3R and MPC created a coalition.{{cite web|url=https://letsunami.net/centrafrique-la-declaration-des-groupes-armes-qui-sonne-le-glas-du-regime-de-bangui/|title=Centrafrique : la Déclaration des Groupes armés qui sonne le glas du régime de Bangui|date=17 December 2020|access-date=17 January 2021|archive-date=22 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122053311/https://letsunami.net/centrafrique-la-declaration-des-groupes-armes-qui-sonne-le-glas-du-regime-de-bangui/|url-status=live}} The group seized many towns including Yaloke and Bossembele.{{cite news|url=https://corbeaunews-centrafrique.com/rca-panique-a-bangui-la-ville-de-bossembele-serait-tombee-aux-mains-des-rebelles/|title=RCA : inquiétude à Bangui, la ville de Bossembélé serait tombée aux mains des rebelles|date=18 December 2020|access-date=17 January 2021|archive-date=22 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122053217/https://corbeaunews-centrafrique.com/rca-panique-a-bangui-la-ville-de-bossembele-serait-tombee-aux-mains-des-rebelles/|url-status=live}} Bambari was also temporarily seized by rebels.{{cite news|url=https://corbeaunews-centrafrique.com/rca-retour-au-calme-a-bambari-apres-le-depart-des-rebelles/|title=RCA : retour au calme à Bambari après le départ des rebelles|date=23 December 2020|access-date=17 January 2021|archive-date=22 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122025245/https://corbeaunews-centrafrique.com/rca-retour-au-calme-a-bambari-apres-le-depart-des-rebelles/|url-status=live}} On 25 December, the rebels killed three UN peacekeepers and injured two others in Dekoa and Bakouma.{{cite news|url=https://corbeaunews-centrafrique.com/rca-la-coalition-rebelle-rompt-son-cessez-le-feu-trois-casques-bleus-tues/|title=RCA : la coalition rebelle rompt son cessez-le-feu, trois Casques bleus tués|date=25 December 2020|access-date=17 January 2021|archive-date=22 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122025918/https://corbeaunews-centrafrique.com/rca-la-coalition-rebelle-rompt-son-cessez-le-feu-trois-casques-bleus-tues/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |date=2020-12-26 |title=UN peacekeepers killed in Central African Republic ahead of national polls |url=https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20201226-un-peacekeepers-killed-in-central-african-republic-ahead-of-national-polls |access-date=2024-10-14 |website=France 24 |language=en}} Due to rebel attacks, elections did not take place in many areas of the country. Some 800 of the country's polling stations, 14% of the total, were closed due to violence,{{cite news |title=CAR violence forced closure of 800 polling stations: Commission |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/12/28/violence-forces-800-polling-stations-to-close-in-car-commission |access-date=29 December 2020 |work=Al Jazeera |date=28 December 2020 |language=en |archive-date=20 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120045703/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/12/28/violence-forces-800-polling-stations-to-close-in-car-commission |url-status=live }} and during the first round, voting was unable to take place in 29 of the 71 sub-prefectures, while six others only managed to partially vote before being shut down due to voter intimidation.{{Cite web|date=30 December 2020|title=Central African Republic opposition coalition demands elections be scrapped|url=https://www.enca.com/news/central-african-republic-opposition-coalition-demands-elections-be-scrapped|access-date=1 January 2021|website=eNCA|publisher=Agence France-Presse|language=en|archive-date=7 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107231452/https://www.enca.com/news/central-african-republic-opposition-coalition-demands-elections-be-scrapped|url-status=live}} On 15 January, rebels attacked Bangui killing one peacekeeper before being repelled by international forces.{{Cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210116-un-peacekeeper-killed-in-central-african-republic|title=UN peacekeeper killed in Central African Republic|date=16 January 2021|access-date=17 January 2021|archive-date=16 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116055029/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210116-un-peacekeeper-killed-in-central-african-republic|url-status=live}} On 21 March, the coalition announced that Bozizé had become the group's "general coordinator".{{cite news|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/21/central-africa-ex-president-bozize-takes-charge-of-rebel-alliance/|title=CAR ex-President François Bozizé takes charge of rebel alliance|date=21 March 2021|access-date=28 April 2021|archive-date=28 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428220528/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/21/central-africa-ex-president-bozize-takes-charge-of-rebel-alliance/|url-status=live}} On 6 April UPC reportedly left Coalition of Patriots for Change,[https://ndjonisango.com/2021/04/06/rca-upc-dali-darassa-le-groupe-rebelle-radical-quitte-la-cpc/ RCA: UPC d’Ali Darassa, le groupe rebelle radical quitte la CPC] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210520090047/https://ndjonisango.com/2021/04/06/rca-upc-dali-darassa-le-groupe-rebelle-radical-quitte-la-cpc/ |date=20 May 2021 }}, 6 April 2021 but officially rejoined in early December 2021.[https://corbeaunews-centrafrique.org/rca-lautoproclame-general-ali-darassa-mahamat-nomme-chef-detat-major-du-cpc/ Centrafrique : la rébellion de la CPC en ordre de bataille], 12 December 2021