AGP Executive Report

Climate Finance: The Central African Republic has joined the V20 group of climate-vulnerable economies, whose ministers are calling for longer-term concessional finance to invest in health, education, water and resilience. Food and Schools: WFP school meals reach more than 250,000 children in 335 CAR schools, supporting attendance and local farmers. Yet food remains painfully unaffordable: a worker needs about 30 days’ wages to buy a basic basket of 10 items. Digital Links: CAR and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are reviving plans for a cross-border fibre connection that could give the landlocked country a third international route to internet cables. Security: UN peacekeepers and Central African troops have stepped up joint patrols in Vakaga. Separately, the US has again listed CAR under its Child Soldiers Prevention Act, a designation that can restrict some military assistance, subject to exceptions or a waiver. Cost of Living: Unions and civil society groups are demanding the government reverse October’s fuel-price increase, warning it will raise transport and food costs as wages remain flat. Regional Currency: Five older CFA franc coin series will cease to be legal tender across CEMAC, including CAR, on November 1; holders can exchange them until October 2027.

Cost of Living: A World Vision study says workers in the Central African Republic need about 30 days’ wages to afford a basic basket of 10 foods, highlighting the strain on households. School Support: WFP provides meals to more than 250,000 children in 335 schools; the programme is also helping local farmers and boosting enrolment. Fuel Protests: Unions and civil society groups are urging the government to reverse October’s fuel price hikes, warning they will raise transport and food costs; organizers called for a nationwide shutdown on Oct. 12. Security and Connectivity: UN peacekeepers and national troops have stepped up joint patrols in Vakaga, while CAR and the DRC are reviving plans for a cross-border fibre link that could give the landlocked country a third international internet route. US Military Restrictions: CAR remains on Washington’s Child Soldiers Prevention Act list, which can trigger limits on military assistance and arms sales unless an exception or presidential waiver applies.

Security: UN peacekeepers and Central African troops have stepped up joint patrols in Vakaga, a sign of closer cooperation to address insecurity in the northeast. Digital Links: Bangui is reviving plans for a fibre-optic connection to the DRC, which could give the landlocked country a third route to international subsea cables; the two countries’ telecom ministers agreed to accelerate the project. Cost of Living: A fuel-price hike introduced on October 1 has drawn protests from unions and civil society groups, who warn it will raise transport and food costs. Military Aid: The United States has included CAR on its Child Soldiers Prevention Act list, which can trigger restrictions on some military assistance; waivers may apply. Deportation Concerns: A transgender woman deported from the U.S. to Bangui says she is hiding her identity and fears for her safety, renewing scrutiny of the treatment and support available to deportees in CAR.

Digital Links: CAR is reviving plans for a fibre-optic connection to the DRC, which would give the landlocked country a third route to international subsea cables. The two countries’ telecom ministers agreed to speed up planning. Cost of Living: Fuel price increases introduced on Oct. 1 have drawn protests from unions and civil-society groups, who warn of higher transport and food costs and are demanding a reversal. US Security Ties: CAR is among 14 countries listed under the US Child Soldiers Prevention Act, a designation that could restrict some military training, financing and equipment sales unless waived. Poverty: A UNDP index found multidimensional poverty had worsened in CAR during its 2010–20 assessment period, placing it among five countries with rising deprivation. Deportations: A Cuban transgender woman deported by the US to Bangui says she is hiding her identity and lacks documents, highlighting the risks and uncertain status facing third-country deportees.

Digital Links: The Central African Republic and Democratic Republic of the Congo have agreed to accelerate plans for a cross-border fibre link, which would give landlocked CAR a third route to international subsea cables. Rights and Deportations: Daniela Fuentes, a transgender Cuban deported from the United States to Bangui, says she is hiding her identity and fears discrimination; she hopes to seek asylum elsewhere. Cost of Living: Fuel price rises introduced on Oct. 1 have drawn protests from unions and civil society groups, who called for a nationwide shutdown on Oct. 12 and urged the government to reverse the increases. Security Cooperation: CAR is among 14 countries named in the US State Department’s child-soldier report, a designation that can trigger restrictions on some military assistance. Poverty: A new UNDP index lists CAR among five countries where multidimensional poverty worsened during the latest assessment period.

Fuel Costs: Trade unions and civil society groups are urging the government to reverse fuel-price hikes, warning they will raise transport and food costs; organizers called a nationwide shutdown for Oct. 12. US Military Ties: The Central African Republic is on Washington’s 2026 child-soldier list, a designation that could restrict military training, financing and equipment sales unless exemptions or a waiver apply. Poverty: A UNDP report lists CAR among five countries where multidimensional poverty worsened in the latest assessment. Deportees in Bangui: A Cuban transgender woman deported from the US says she is hiding her identity and wants to seek asylum elsewhere; she lacks documents and cannot work. Regional Security: CAR officers are taking part in a 12-country weapons-tracing programme in Nigeria aimed at disrupting illicit arms networks.

U.S. Military Restrictions: The Central African Republic is among eight African countries on a U.S. list tied to child-soldier recruitment or use. The designation could restrict military assistance, training and some commercial arms sales, though waivers may apply. Regional Security: CAR officers are taking part in a five-day Nigeria-led programme to identify and trace illicit weapons, as officials warn cross-border arms flows fuel violence. Resource Policy: Bangui and Moscow agreed on more than 30 measures for geological surveys, regulatory reforms and mining-sector training. The plan prepares for possible future investment; it does not announce new extraction deals. Poverty: A new UNDP report lists CAR among five countries where multidimensional poverty rose during the latest available survey periods. Deportation Policy: A transgender woman deported by the U.S. to CAR says she is hiding and fears for her safety, amid growing scrutiny of Washington’s transfers of migrants to countries where they have no ties.

Security Cooperation: Central African officers are among 12 countries taking part in a five-day Nigeria-led course on tracing illicit weapons. Organizers say cross-border arms trafficking fuels violence and crime. US Scrutiny: Washington named CAR among 14 countries accused of recruiting or using child soldiers. The designation could restrict some US military assistance unless waived. Russia Ties: Bangui and Moscow agreed on more than 30 measures to map mineral resources and prepare potential mining areas for investment, deepening economic ties alongside Russia’s security role. Deportation Fallout: CAR is among African countries receiving US deportees, a policy Human Rights Watch says violates international law. A transgender woman deported to CAR says she is in hiding. Peace and Justice: Bhutan is sending a 180-member contingent to the UN mission in CAR. Separately, the ICC’s judgment against former Seleka figure Mahamat Said dismissed several charges, including torture and cruel treatment.

Child-Soldier Listing: The 2026 U.S. trafficking report names the Central African Republic among 14 countries on its Child Soldiers Prevention Act list, which can trigger restrictions on military aid and training. Regional Diplomacy: Former CAR president Catherine Samba-Panza joined an African Union panel urging DR Congo to turn peace commitments into concrete action. Russia Ties: Bangui and Moscow agreed on more than 30 measures for geological surveys and mining-sector cooperation, deepening economic ties alongside Russia’s security role. Deportation Fallout: A transgender woman deported from the U.S. to CAR says she is hiding her identity and fears for her safety; Human Rights Watch has condemned third-country deportations as unlawful. Peacekeeping: Bhutan is deploying a 180-member contingent, including 13 women, to the UN mission in CAR. Regional Currency: Five older CFA-franc coin series will lose legal-tender status across CEMAC, including CAR, on November 1.

Russia Ties: Bangui and Moscow agreed on more than 30 measures to map mineral resources, prepare mining areas for investment and expand technical cooperation. The plan deepens a relationship already shaped by Russian security support, but announces no new extraction contracts. Deportations to CAR: A transgender woman deported from the U.S. says she is hiding her identity and living in fear. Human Rights Watch says U.S. transfers of migrants to African countries, including CAR, violate international law and have exposed some deportees to detention and abuse. Regional Diplomacy: Former CAR president Catherine Samba-Panza joined an African Union delegation urging concrete progress in eastern DRC peace talks with President Félix Tshisekedi. Regional Economy: Five older CFA-franc coin series will lose legal-tender status across CEMAC, including CAR, on November 1; holders will have a year to exchange them.

Russia ties: Bangui and Moscow agreed on more than 30 measures to map mineral resources, reform mining rules and prepare sites for possible investment. The plan includes Russian technology and training, but announces no new extraction deals; it deepens a relationship already shaped by Russian security support. Regional diplomacy: DRC President Félix Tshisekedi urged African Union mediators to secure concrete results in eastern Congo peace talks. The delegation included former CAR president Catherine Samba-Panza. Deportation fallout: Daniela Fuentes, a transgender woman deported from the US to the CAR, says she is hiding her identity and living in fear. Human Rights Watch says the wider US practice of sending migrants to countries where they have no ties violates international law. US visa restrictions: Washington has suspended visa issuance to CAR citizens under a policy affecting nationals of 19 countries.

U.S. Visa Restrictions: A U.S. policy effective since January 1 suspends visa issuance to Central African Republic nationals, alongside citizens of 18 other countries. Regional Diplomacy: Former CAR president Catherine Samba-Panza joined an African Union panel that urged the DRC to turn peace commitments into verifiable action. Deportations: Human Rights Watch says the U.S. has sent more than 500 people to African countries they are not from. Among them is transgender Cuban Daniela Fuentes, deported to the CAR, where she says she is hiding her identity and fears for her safety. Moscow-Bangui Ties: The two governments agreed on more than 30 measures to map mineral resources and prepare potential mining areas, deepening economic ties alongside Russia’s security role. Trade and Currency: A World Bank-backed regional corridor plan allocates $90 million to the CAR, while old CFA franc coins will lose legal-tender status on November 1, with a one-year exchange period announced. ICC Justice: Judges in the case of former Seleka figure Mahamat Said dismissed half the charges and found an armed conflict in the CAR lasted from late 2012 until March 24, 2013.

U.S. Visa Restrictions: Washington’s policy suspends visa issuance to Central African Republic citizens, alongside nationals of 18 other countries, under a proclamation that took effect in January. Russia Ties: Bangui and Moscow agreed on more than 30 measures to expand geological surveys and prepare mineral-rich areas for potential investment, deepening ties that already include Russian security support. Deportations and Rights: Human Rights Watch says the U.S. has sent migrants to the CAR and other African countries where they have no ties; a transgender Cuban deported to the CAR says she is living in fear and hiding her identity. ICC Ruling: Judges in the case of former Seleka commander Mahamat Said dismissed several war-crime charges, while affirming that a non-international armed conflict took place in the CAR from late 2012 to March 2013. Regional Diplomacy: Former CAR president Catherine Samba-Panza joined an African Union panel urging action on peace commitments during talks with DRC President Félix Tshisekedi.

Deportations and Rights: Transgender Cuban Daniela Fuentes says she is hiding her identity in the Central African Republic after the U.S. deported her there in August. Human Rights Watch says Washington’s third-country deportations violate international law; CAR is among the African countries receiving migrants with no ties there. Trade Corridor: Cameroon has cleared a $407 million World Bank loan for the Douala–Bangui corridor, which carries more than 80% of CAR’s foreign trade. The wider program also allocates $90 million to CAR, including road rehabilitation. Currency Changes: From November 1, old CFA franc coins issued in five series will no longer be legal tender across CEMAC, including CAR. Holders will have a year to exchange them, though arrangements are still pending. Peace Efforts: Bangui’s coadjutor archbishop has urged renewed dialogue and national cohesion as the country works to rebuild.

Deportation Deal Under Fire: Human Rights Watch says US transfers of migrants to third countries violate international law; the Central African Republic is among the African states that have received deportees. Daniela Fuentes, a transgender woman sent to Bangui from the US, says she is hiding her identity and fears for her safety. Trade Corridor: Cameroon has cleared a $407 million World Bank loan for the Douala-Bangui route, a vital link for CAR’s foreign trade. CAR is allocated $90 million for road works, including rehabilitation on the Baoro-Bossemptélé stretch. Peace and Cohesion: Bangui’s Coadjutor Archbishop Joseph Samedi urged dialogue and unity, hoping President Faustin-Archange Touadéra’s Vatican meeting will help open a new chapter of peace and development.

Deportations: Human Rights Watch says US third-country removals violate international law; more than 500 people have been sent to African countries where they are not citizens. One, transgender Cuban Daniela Fuentes, was deported to the Central African Republic and says she must hide her identity. Trade Corridor: Cameroon has cleared a $407 million World Bank loan for its section of the Douala–Bangui route, a vital link for CAR’s foreign trade. The wider program allocates CAR $90 million and identifies the Baoro–Bossemptélé road for rehabilitation. Peace and Cohesion: Bangui’s coadjutor archbishop, Joseph Samedi, urged dialogue, coexistence and national unity, hoping President Faustin-Archange Touadéra’s Vatican meeting will support peace and development. Education and Influence: Russian has entered CAR’s school curriculum, underscoring Moscow’s growing cultural footprint alongside its political and security ties.