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Central African Republic rebel chief Sidiki Abass dies

Bi Sidi Souleymane alias Sidiki Abass died on March 25 from injuries sustained in fighting last Nov.

One of the main armed groups in the Central African Republic, a member of a rebel coalition seeking to overthrow the regime of President Faustin Archange Touadéra, announced on Friday the death of its leader, Sidiki Abass, from injuries sustained during an attack in November.

In a statement, the group “3R” announced the “sad news of the death of its founding president, General Sidiki Abass, on March 25” in a health centre in the north of the country.

He died “as a result of serious injuries he sustained during the attacks that took place precisely in Bossembélé on November 16, 2020,” said General Bobbo, a senior official of the 3R movement, who signed the statement and authenticated the document to AFP.

Sidiki Abass, whose real name is Bi Sidi Souleymane, was one of the main leaders of armed groups in the Central African Republic.

The 3R movement (for “Return, Reclamation, and Rehabilitation”), made up mostly of Fulani, was originally formed to defend this nomadic herding community in northwestern CAR, where conflicts with sedentary farmers are recurrent.

In December, Sidiki Abass and his movement joined the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC), an alliance of Central African armed groups that launched an offensive two weeks before the presidential election to prevent the re-election of President Touadéra and overthrow his regime.

Well-equipped, the 3Rs have been at the forefront of the fighting against pro-government forces, managing to advance as far as a hundred kilometres from Bangui.

The 3R communiqué dates the injury of their leader to November 16, one month before the start of the rebel offensive. However, according to several security and UN sources, it was in December, during the initial fighting, that Sidiki Abass was hit in an ambush on his convoy.

Rumours of his death have been circulating ever since, but the 3R movement has refused to confirm this information.

Since January, Central African troops, assisted by hundreds of Rwandan soldiers and Russian paramilitaries, have been conducting a counter-offensive against the CPC, which has resulted in the liberation of most of the localities occupied by the rebels in December.

The 3Rs have lost much ground, but they remain a serious threat in the northwest, where their knowledge of the area allows them to operate off the few tracks accessible to government vehicles.

Source: africanews.com

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. In addition to his media ventures, Solomon serves as a Brand Ambassador for Alabuga, a prominent Russian industrial company, representing their interests and expansion across Africa. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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