The Central African Republic (CAR), long plagued by cycles of instability, is once again at a dangerous crossroads. Once described as one of Africa’s most resource-rich yet conflict-ridden states, the country finds itself caught between foreign powers, rebel groups, and a population yearning for peace and self-determination.

While the government in Bangui hails new security partnerships and mineral deals as steps toward sovereignty, critics warn that the rising influence of external actors — particularly Russia and France — alongside fragmented rebel factions is fueling tensions rather than resolving them.

The situation has implications not only for CAR’s stability but also for the broader Pan-African struggle to reclaim agency over natural resources, governance, and peacebuilding.