CAR Archives - Robert Lansing Institute

Wagner’s Opioid Empire: How Tramadol Trafficking Fuels Russian Mercenary Networks in Central Africa

The illicit tramadol trade linking India and the Central African Republic (CAR) has evolved into one of the most profitable criminal enterprises operating in Central Africa. Rather than functioning solely…

July 13, 2026CAR, Wagner Group

Conflict Geopolitics National Security Warfare

Russia’s Borderlock in Central Africa: Gold, Gray Zones, and the Erosion of U.S. Leverage

Russia’s actions along the Sudan–CAR border following the gold-mine incident represent not a security response, but a deliberate territorial control operation. By sealing cross-border routes, detaining civilians, and denying access to observers, Moscow…

February 9, 2026CAR, gold, Russia, Sudan, USA

Conflict Governance

Wagner’s Blowback in the Central African Republic: Fresh Violence Tests Touadéra’s Third Mandate

Just days after being sworn in for a third term, Central African Republic (CAR) President Faustin-Archange Touadéra is facing a destabilizing spike in violence in the country’s remote south-east, where…

January 12, 2026CAR, Wagner Group

Governance

Central African Republic Elections 2025–26: Consolidation Without Consensus

The general elections held on 28 December 2025 in the Central African Republic (CAR) have provisionally returned incumbent President Faustin-Archange Touadéra to power for a third term, with 76.15% of the vote, on a turnout of roughly 52.4%. …

January 7, 2026CAR, elections

National Security

Elections Without Limits: Russia’s Expanding Influence in the Central African Republic

US News has published an article stating that Central African Republic (CAR) President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, who has been in power since 2016 and is closely linked to Russia, has announced his bid…

December 24, 2025African Corps, CAR, gold, Russia, Wagner Group

Geopolitics Intelligence ops

Minerals, Mercenaries, and State Power: CAR’s Choice Between Wagner and Africa Corps

The Central African Republic (CAR) faces mounting pressure from Moscow to phase out the Wagner mercenary group in favor of a new Kremlin-controlled “Africa Corps.” Russian officials – including a deputy defense…

October 7, 2025African Corps, CAR, Mali, Russia, Sudan, Wagner Group

Democracy Governance

The Strategic Gamble of Power: President Touadéra’s Third-Term Bid in the Central African Republic

I. Introduction President Faustin-Archange Touadéra’s official confirmation of his candidacy for a third term, following a controversial constitutional overhaul in 2023, marks a decisive turn in the Central African Republic’s…

July 31, 2025CAR, Russia

Corruption National Security Situation Reports Terrorism

Wagner Group Atrocities in the Central African Republic — Motives, Parallels, and Risks of Regional Backlash

The killing of local civilians by the Russian Wagner Group near a gold mine in the Central African Republic (CAR) has reignited international scrutiny over Moscow’s extractive activities in Africa.…

July 21, 2025CAR, gold, Russia, Wagner Group

Conflict War crimes

Blood in the Shadows: Protests in the Central African Republic and the Pattern of Wagner Group Atrocities

The recent wave of protests across the Central African Republic (CAR) reflects growing public outrage at the continued presence and influence of Russian mercenaries, particularly the Wagner Group. Sparked by…

April 7, 2025CAR, Russia, Wagner Group

Healthcare Intelligence ops National Security

Russian biolabs in the Central African Republic: territory retrospective analysis

On May 8, we published a material on the Russian biolaboratories located on the territory of the Central African Republic. We analyzed thoroughly available space footages of Bossangoa, Ouam Prefecture in the…

May 14, 2024CAR

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