The Central African Republic (CAR) has seen a sharp rise in gender-based violence, with Russian mercenaries, particularly from the Wagner Group, being implicated in numerous cases of rape and sexual abuse. 

According to the Africa Defence Forum (ADF), a magazine published quarterly by US Africa Command, Wagner mercenaries, who have been stationed in the Central African Republic since 2018 to support President Faustin-Archange Touadéra's regime and protect Russia’s mining interests, have increasingly become feared by the local population.

Reports of atrocities committed by these forces are on the rise, but many victims remain silent, fearing retaliation if they speak out.

Citing an ADF reporter who recently visited Bouar in CAR, the magazine reported the discovery of harrowing accounts of sexual violence perpetrated by Russian mercenaries. The journalist reported that these attacks are widespread, with women often being assaulted while working on their farms, sometimes even in the presence of their families.

The United Nations and humanitarian organisations have documented a troubling surge in gender-based violence, with cases rising dramatically. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has provided care to over 19,500 survivors of sexual abuse between 2018 and 2022.

These attacks have far-reaching consequences that extend beyond the immediate harm to the victims, profoundly impacting the entire community. The pervasive fear has forced many women to abandon their farms, resulting in a sharp decline in food production and a subsequent 50% increase in food prices. This economic disruption has intensified the already severe challenges faced by the local population.