Azande Ani Kpi Gbe ("Too many Azande people have died"), also known as Wagner Ti Azandé,[5] is an ethnic militia of Azande people active in the Haut-Mbomou prefecture of the Central African Republic since March 2023.[2]
| Azande Ani Kpi Gbe | |
|---|---|
 Group logo | |
| Leaders | General Limane[1] |
| Dates of operation | 2023–present |
| Headquarters | Bambouti |
| Active regions | Haut-Mbomou |
| Size | 1,000+[2] |
| Allies | Wagner Group (since March 2024)[3] FACA[4] |
| Opponents | UPC SSPDF |
| Battles and wars | Central African Republic Civil War |
| Website | Azande Ani Kpi Gbe on Facebook |
History
editOn 3 March 2023 the group sent a letter demanding resignation of prefect of Haut-Mbomou Prefecture, Jude Ngayako, whom they accused him of colluding with UPC. At this point, the group was based in Bassigbiri village.[6]
On 15 March 2023, Azande Ani Kpi Gbe captured Bambouti from UPC rebels. As a result, UPC withdrew to a place not far from the town.[7]
UPC rebels attacked Azande Ani Kpi Gbe militia in Bambouti to recapture the town on 30 March 2023. Azande self-defense militia managed to repel the attack. Nevertheless, both sides suffered casualties.[8]
Azande Ani Kpi Gbe attacked FACA military base in Obo on 5 April 2023 as a response to the arrest of its two members. The attack lasted for twenty minutes and the militia withdrew from the city. They claimed that the attack was a warning to the government.[9]
South Sudan Army attacked Azande Ani Kpi Gbe position in Bambouti on 23 April 2023. Azande Ani Kpi Gbe militia repelled the attack and both warring parties suffered casualties.[10]
Azandé Ani Kpi Gbé militia attacked UPC position 10 kilometers from Mboki on 7 May 2023 after hearing the disappearance of a Fulani herder, for which the militia blamed the rebels for it. This forced the town residents to seek refuge at the catholic church.[11] On 8 May 2023, the clash between Azandé Ani Kpi Gbé and UPC reached Mboki downtown and Azande militia controlled 80% of the town.[12] Later, the Azandé militia retreated 7 km from Mboki after MINUSCA forced them to withdraw.[13]
UPC attacked Azande Ani Kpi Gbe militia on 23 May 2023 in Kadjéma. The battle lasted for two hours and UPC captured the village. Due to the attack, the villagers fled to the bush.[14]
Azandé Ani Kpi Gbé attacked the UPC position in Mboki for the second time on 15 June 2023. Although UPC repelled the attack, Azandé Ani Kpi Gbé militia remained on the town's outskirt, and the residents fled to the field and bush near Mboki.[15] It was estimated that 40 people were dead from both warring parties, and four civilians were killed.[16]
Wagner trained Azandé Ani Kpi Gbé militia in March 2024.[17] The training ended on 1 May, and around 100 militiamen joined FACA.[18]
References
edit- ^ Crise imminente dans le Haut-Mbomou : Les AZANDE ANI KPI GBE menacent de déclencher de grandes hostilités, 26 February 2024
- ^ a b L’incroyable constellation des groupes armés en Centrafrique, 27 July 2023
- ^ Nzilo, Alain. "Début de l'entraînement de la milice AZANDE ANI KPI GBE par des mercenaires russes". corbeaunews-centrafrique.org. Corbeau News Centrafrique. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
- ^ Zeguino, Fidèle. "Wagner ti Azandé, c'est le nom de la nouvelle milice de Touadera à Obo". corbeaunews-centrafrique.org. Corbeau News Centrafrique. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
- ^ Zeguino, Fidèle. "Wagner ti Azandé, c'est le nom de la nouvelle milice de Touadera à Obo". corbeaunews-centrafrique.org. Corbeau News Centrafrique. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
- ^ Centrafrique : une milice locale exige la démission du préfet du Haut-Mbomou, 13 March 2023
- ^ Ndoumba, Felix (15 March 2023). "Bambouti , violent affrontement entre la milice d'autodéfense AZANDE ANI KPI GBE et les rebelles de l'UPC". corbeaunews-centrafrique. Corbeaunews Centrafrique. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
- ^ Ndoumba, Felix (2 April 2023). "Bambouti, nouvel affrontement entre les groupes armés". corbeaunews-centrafrique. Corbeaunews Centrafrique. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
- ^ Ndoumba, Felix (5 April 2023). "Centrafrique : nouvelle attaque de la base de l'armée nationale à Obo". corbeaunews-centrafrique. Corbeaunews Centrafrique. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
- ^ Ndeke Luka, Ndeke Luka (24 April 2023). "Centrafrique : affrontements entre une milice locale et des soldats sud-soudanais à Bambouti dans l'extrême Sud-est". radiondekeluka.org. Radio Ndeke Luka. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
- ^ Ndoumba, Felix (7 May 2023). "Centrafrique : Violent affrontement en cours entre les miliciens AZANDE ANI KPI GBE et les rebelles de l'UPC à Mboki". corbeaunews-centrafrique. Corbeaunews Centrafrique. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
- ^ Ndoumba, Félix (8 May 2023). "Le plein centre-ville de Mboki en proie aux violents affrontements entre miliciens et rebelles: débandade générale de la population". corbeaunews-centrafrique. Corbeaunews Centrafrique. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
- ^ Ndeke Luka, Ndeke Luka (9 May 2023). "Centrafrique : la ville de Mboki secouée par des combats entre la milice locale A Zandé Ani Kpi Gbé et l'UPC". radiondekeluka.org. Radio Ndeke Luka. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
- ^ Ndoumba, Félix (23 May 2023). "Nouvelles violences meurtrières à Obo : L'affrontement entre deux groupes armés se poursuit". corbeaunews-centrafrique. Corbeaunews Centrafrique. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
- ^ Ndoumba, Félix (20 June 2023). "Mboki : Un nouvel épisode sanglant oppose les miliciens Azandé Ani Kpi Gbe aux rebelles de l'UPC". corbeaunews-centrafrique. Corbeaunews Centrafrique. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
- ^ Xinhua, Xinhua. "Centrafrique : plus de 40 morts dans un affrontement entre deux groupes armés dans le sud-est du pays". french.xinhuanet.com. Xinhua. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
- ^ Nzilo, Alain. "Début de l'entraînement de la milice AZANDE ANI KPI GBE par des mercenaires russes". corbeaunews-centrafrique.org. Corbeau News Centrafrique. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
- ^ Ndeke Luka, Ndeke Luka. "Centrafrique : des miliciens A Zandé Ani Kpi Gbé intègrent les rangs des Faca à Obo". radiondekeluka.org. Radio Ndeke Luka. Retrieved 4 May 2024.