Republican Guard (Central African Republic)
{{Short description|Military unit protecting government officials}}
{{Infobox law enforcement unit
| unit_name = Republican Guard
| native_name = {{lang|fr|Garde républicaine}}
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| country = {{flag|Central African Republic}}
| agency = Central African Armed Forces
| type = Republican guard
| role = Protection of government officials and installations
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| headquarters = Bangui
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| sworn_type_label = Personnel
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The Republican Guard ({{langx|fr|Garde républicaine}}, or GR),https://reliefweb.int/report/central-african-republic/bulletin-dinformation-humanitaire-r%C3%A9publique-centrafricaine-rca-23 also called the Presidential Guard ({{langx|fr|Garde présidentielle}}, or PR),https://www.africaintelligence.fr/afrique-centrale/2023/02/06/la-garde-presidentielle-se-replie-sur-les-proches-de-touadera,109909845-bre a military unit that is nominally part of the Central African Armed Forces (FACA). However, it is directly subordinated to the President of the Central African Republic, for whom it provides security.https://thesentry.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/ArchitectsTerror-TheSentry-June2023.pdf
History
During the leadership of President François Bozizé, the guard largely consisted of members of his same tribe, "patriots" who helped him seize power during the 2003 coup d'état, and was estimated to number some 800 men.[https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/africa/car-army.htm Central African Republic Army]. Global Security. Retrieved 21 March 2018. They have been accused of numerous assaults on the civil population, such as terror, aggression, sexual violence. Since the outbreak of the civil war and ethnic violence in 2012 and the overthrow of Bozizé in 2013, many members of the guard have joined the Seleka coalition.[https://lobelog.com/u-s-military-aid-to-presidential-guards-a-risky-venture/ U.S. Military Aid to Presidential Guards a Risky Venture]. Published 6 October 2015. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
From 2008, they had received training from South African and Sudanese troops, with support from Belgium and Germany, although since then the leadership has been cautious about significantly reforming the guard.[https://issat.dcaf.ch/Learn/Resource-Library/Country-Profiles/Central-African-Republic-Background-Note#presidential Central African Republic Background Note — Security Sector Reform]. DCAF. 2 February 2015. Wagner contractors, since 2018, led training for the RG onlyhttps://oubanguimedias.com/2022/09/09/fin-de-formation-des-elements-du-groupement-special-de-protection-republicaine-gspr/https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-wagner-mercenaries-central-african-republic-crimes/33306858.html and avoid training other units in the FACA due to its units being entirely trained by European militaries.
=Civil War=
Since the civil war, transitional president Michel Djotodia attempted to reform the presidential guard, which was staffed by his militia.[http://www.journaldebangui.com/article.php?aid=4681 Bangui: La garde présidentielle en voie de restructuration] {{in lang|fr}}. Journal de Bangui. Published 25 May 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2018. Chinese instructors provided training to the presidential guard and other internal security forces in 2018.[http://news.abangui.com/h/66290.html Centrafrique : 20 éléments de la Garde Spéciale Chargés de la Protection Républicaine formés par des instructeurs chinois]. {{in lang|fr}}. News.abangui.com. Published 8 December 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
=Current=
In May 2019, a unit of the presidential guard was commissioned after being trained by Russian military instructors, the groupement spécial chargé de la protection républicaine (GSPR).https://web.archive.org/web/20190505012100/https://www.acap.cf/La-garde-presidentielle-se-dote-d-une-nouvelle-unite-speciale_a9498.html. The unit, also known as Alpha Group, had its initial operators trained for seven months.http://news.abangui.com/h/68102.html The Section d'Appui aux Opérations Spéciale (SAOS) serves as the Republican Guard's main SOF unit trained by Wagner contractors.{{sfnp|Horn|Ilis-Alm|2024|p=204}}
Organization
=Structure=
References
{{reflist}}
Bibliography
- {{cite book|editor-last1=Horn|editor-first1=Col. (retired) Bernd|editor-last2=Ilis-Alm|editor-first2=Col. (retired) Hans|title=Force Multiplier: Utilization of SOF from a Small State Perspective|date=2024|publisher=17 Wing Winnipeg Publishing Office|isbn=9780660693637|type=ebook}}