The Central African Republic (CAR) and Chad have begun forming a joint military force to enhance security along their shared border and combat armed rebel groups operating in the region.
This initiative comes shortly after N’Djamena arrested a dissident general, further highlighting security concerns. CAR’s Chief of General Staff, Zéphirin Mamadou, announced on state radio that the operational phase of the joint force had commenced. The move follows a military cooperation agreement signed between the two countries’ defense ministers two months ago.
According to a statement from senior military officials, once the operational plan approved by both nations’ military chiefs is finalized, the joint force will be deployed along the border to ensure the free movement of people and goods. The statement further urged all armed groups in the region to lay down their weapons and contribute to peace efforts.
The establishment of this joint military force aligns with decisions made during the sixth extraordinary summit of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) in Malabo, which focused on addressing the humanitarian crisis in the region.