Return, Reclamation, Rehabilitation

Return, Reclamation, Rehabilitation (3R, French: Retour, Réclamation et Réhabilitation) is a rebel group in the northwestern part of Central African Republic which is responsible for multiple war crimes.

Return, Reclamation, Rehabilitation
Retour, Réclamation et Réhabilitation
LeadersSidiki Abbas (until 2021)
General Bobbo (March 2021 –)[1][2]
Dates of operation2015–
HeadquartersKoui (2015–21)
Abba (2020)
Besson (2021–)[3]
Active regionsNortwestern part of Central African Republic
Size1,700+ (Ouham)[4]
Part ofCoalition of Patriots for Change (since 2020)
Opponents FACA
MINUSCA
Anti-balaka (former)
WebsiteRetour Réclamation Réhabilitation
  Territories under control of 3R

Timeline of insurgency

3R was formed in December 2015 to protect Fulani herders from Anti-balaka attacks. On 27 September 2016 they captured De Gaulle town (now Koui) killing at least 17 civilians.[5] On 2 May they captured Niem in Koui sub-prefecture.[6] On 23 September 2017 they captured Bocaranga from Anti-balaka.[7] They handed it over to FACA on 7 January 2019.[8]

On 1 May 2020 3R took control of Baboua,[9] withdrawing from it four days later.[10] On 13 May 3R disarmed local gendarmerie seizing Besson and Koundé[11] On 27 May 3R took control of Koundjili in Ouham-Pende. Local population fled to bush.[12] On 6 June 3R withdrew from Central African peace agreement.[13] On 30 June Bangladeshi paratroopers from MINUSCA attacked 3R in Koui.[14] On 22 July MINUSCA forces recaptured Niem from 3R forces,[15] followed by Besson (28 July[16]) and Koui (17 August[17]). On 19 August they moved its headquarters to Abba.[18] On 17 September they captured four villages in Bimbo sub-prefecture near Paoua.[19] On 27 September they took control of Boguila, followed by Nana-Bakassa on 7 October.[20]

On 17 December 2020 3R joined Coalition of Patriots for Change.[21] On April 2, 2021, a statement from the 3R revealed that Sidiki Abbas had died on March 25, from injuries he sustained during an attack in the town of Bossembélé in November 2020.[1]

War crimes

On 21 May 2019 3R fighters killed 46 unarmed civilians in Ouham-Pendé prefecture[22] On 13 July an UN peacekeeper was killed and two others wounded in an ambush set up by the 3R militia.[23] On 19 July they attacked Ngbama village near Bocaranga kidnapping 40 people and stealing 50 million CFA francs.[24]

Kidnappings

On 7 September 2020 3R kidnapped two policemen in Bang village near border with Cameroon.[25] On 27 September they kidnapped another law enforcement officer.[26] On 5 December 3R freed three of the hostages after negotiations with MINUSCA.[27]

Voter intimidation

3R banned voter registration for incoming elections from taking place in Koui and Ngaoundaye.[28]

Use of land mines

On 28 September 2020 3R placed land mines on a bridge in Moumdji near Bocaranga and set up checkpoint demanding payment for crossing the river.[29] Rwandan peacekeepers removed them on 2 October.[30]

International reactions

On August 7, 2020 Abbas Sidiki, 3R's leader, was sanctioned by the United States government under Executive Order 13667[31] and listed in the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List.[32]

References
  1. "RCA : les cadres du mouvement armée 3R annonce bizarrement la mort du sulfureux chef rebelle Abbas Sidiki" (in French). 2 April 2021. Archived from the original on 2 April 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  2. RCA : le parquet général annonce l’arrestation du général Bobo, successeur d’Abbas Sidiki et ses trois complices Archived 2021-04-15 at the Wayback Machine, 15 April 2021
  3. Centrafrique : « Assassinat du Maire de De Gaulle »: le général Bobo de 3R accuse les mercenaires russes de Touadéra et exige la mise en place d’une enquête internationale Archived 2021-06-17 at the Wayback Machine, 17 June 2021
  4. "RCA : le 3R lance à nouveau un ultimatum à la Minusca, « pas d'élections à Ngaoundaye »". Archived from the original on 2021-01-15. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  5. "Central African Republic: Mayhem by New Group". 20 December 2016. Archived from the original on 1 March 2017. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  6. Amnesty International: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC 2017/2018 Archived 2020-10-27 at the Wayback Machine
  7. "Centrafrique : Bocaranga, sous contrôle des rebelles de 3R". 23 September 2017. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  8. "Centrafrique : l'armée reprend peu à peu ses dispositions d'avant la crise". 9 January 2019. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  9. "RCA : inquiétante montée en puissance du chef rebelle Abbas Sidiki". 2 May 2020. Archived from the original on 3 May 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  10. "RCA : Baboua, une ville fantôme abandonnée aux rebelles de 3R". 5 May 2020. Archived from the original on 9 May 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  11. "RCA : le chef rebelle Abbas Sidiki en fuite, fait son retour en force dans le maquis". 14 May 2020. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  12. "RCA : Ouham-Péndé, panique au village Koundili, les rebelles de 3R occupent à nouveau le village". 28 May 2020. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  13. "Rebel group suspends participation in C.Africa peace pact". Archived from the original on 2020-10-07. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  14. "RCA : attaque de Bocaranga, la Minusca lance une vaste opération contre le 3R à koui". 30 June 2020. Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  15. MINUSCA [@UN_CAR] (22 July 2020). "#CAR: The 'Ala Londo' military operation continues in the Northwest. To date, #MINUSCA peacekeepers have regained control of NIEM (Nana-Mambéré) chasing the 3R elements who avoided combat" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  16. "Centrafrique : Besson reprise des mains des "3R" déclare la MINUSCA". 28 July 2020. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  17. "RCA: la ville de Koui désormais sous-contrôle total des casques bleus et des FACA". 18 August 2020. Archived from the original on 8 October 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  18. "RCA : Aba, nouveau bastion de 3R dans le Nord-ouest". 19 August 2020. Archived from the original on 18 September 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  19. "RCA : présence massive des éléments rebelles de 3R signalée dans les localités de Paoua". 19 September 2020. Archived from the original on 3 October 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  20. "RCA : panique à Nanga Boguila, les 3R occupent la ville depuis plusieurs jours, les populations paniquées". 7 October 2020. Archived from the original on 14 October 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  21. Centrafrique : Déclaration de la Coalition des Patriotes pour le Changement Archived 2021-01-28 at the Wayback Machine, 18 December 2020
  22. "Central African Republic: Armed Group Kills 46 Civilians". 18 July 2019. Archived from the original on 21 October 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  23. "CAR rebel ambush kills UN peacekeeper; two injured". Archived from the original on 2020-09-18. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  24. "RCA : des commerçants et humanitaires braqués par les rebelles de 3R, plus de 50 millions FCFA emportés". 19 July 2020. Archived from the original on 9 September 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  25. "RCA : un élément de la police et son auxiliaire enlevé à bang par les éléments de 3R". 7 September 2020. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  26. "RCA : un auxiliaire de la gendarmerie kidnappé par les 3R dans la localité de Paoua". Archived from the original on 2020-10-10. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  27. "RCA : libération des trois éléments des FDSI capturés par les 3R". Archived from the original on 2020-11-04. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  28. "Central African Republic: 3R Rebels In Accused Of Perturbing Electoral Registration". Archived from the original on 2020-12-27. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  29. "RCA : axe Bocaranga – Bouar bloqué, les 3R auraient miné le pont de Moumdji". 1 October 2020. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  30. "RCA : Bocaranga, retour à la normale sur le pont de Moumdji". 2 October 2020. Archived from the original on 15 January 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  31. "Treasury Sanctions Militia Leader in Central African Republic for Human Rights Abuse". U.S. Department of the Treasury. 2020-08-07. Archived from the original on 2020-08-22. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  32. "Hong Kong-related Designations; Central African Republic Designation". U.S. Department of the Treasury. 2020-08-07. Archived from the original on 2020-08-23. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
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