In a landmark moment for the Central African Republic (CAR), two of the country’s most powerful rebel groups, the Unity for Peace in Central Africa (UPC) and the 3R (Return, Reclamation, Rehabilitation), have officially agreed to lay down their arms and dissolve following the signing of a peace agreement with the government.
The symbolic ceremony took place in the capital, Bangui, on Thursday, where UPC leader Ali Darassa publicly surrendered his weapon, marking the end of a decade-long insurgency. The deal, mediated and guaranteed by Chad, commits both groups to disarm, demobilize, and reintegrate into society.
President Faustin-Archange Touadéra hailed the agreement as a crucial step toward lasting peace in a nation ravaged by conflict. “This meeting is a clear demonstration of my firm determination to restore peace through an unfailing policy of reaching out to armed groups,” he declared.
The UPC and 3R had been the largest remaining rebel factions opposing the government, controlling vast territories in the east, center, west, and northwest of CAR. Their campaigns sought to overthrow Touadéra’s administration, exacerbating a brutal conflict that has pitted Christian and Muslim militias against each other since 2013.
Darassa, once a formidable warlord, affirmed his group’s commitment to the peace process, stating, “I declare before national and international opinion that our commitment is sincere and total, with no turning back.”
While the agreement brings hope, challenges remain. Smaller armed factions still operate across the country, and the government controls only a fraction of its territory. However, the dissolution of the UPC and 3R marks the most significant progress toward stability in years, offering CAR’s war-weary population a chance at reconciliation.
The international community now watches closely to see if this fragile peace will hold in one of Africa’s most turbulent nations.
