Clashes erupted in the Central African Republic between a local militia, national army forces, and Russian Wagner mercenaries after recent elections.
Authorities reported that fighting has left one person dead, with tensions escalating in remote eastern regions of the country.
Deputy prosecutor Alain Tolmo said Azande Ani Kpi Gbe fighters carried out targeted attacks on security forces and state officials since December 28.
The first attack occurred on polling day in Bambouti, some 1,300 kilometres from the capital, until Wagner mercenaries and army troops intervened.
Clashes spread to Zemio, a border town with the Democratic Republic of Congo, where fighting remains ongoing and authorities warn of instability.
Tolmo confirmed a census officer was killed and the prefect of Zemio, along with other officials, were taken hostage during the attacks.
He added the violence has caused fear among locals, forcing residents to seek refuge at the town’s Catholic church.
The AAKG militia is predominantly from the Zande community, present in the CAR, DRC, and neighbouring South Sudan.
Analyst Fulbert Ngodji said young Zande militants formed a self-defence militia in March 2023, citing feelings of abandonment by the state.
In 2024, the group joined the national army but were suspended in May 2025, prompting renewed tensions with government forces.
Ngodji warned the militia could evolve from community-level demands to a fully armed opposition challenging the state’s authority.
Stabilising the country poses a major challenge for President Faustin-Archange Touadera as he begins his third term after re-election.
The ongoing unrest highlights deep-rooted grievances among local communities and the fragility of security in CAR’s eastern border regions.
International observers caution that without swift government action, localized clashes could spiral into broader instability across the nation.