Summary
Highlights
The journey to meet the rebel leader is fraught with challenges, including difficult terrain, vehicle breakdowns, and a collapsing bridge. After a grueling five-day journey, the team finally reaches Birao, the rebel stronghold.
The team meets Abdoulaye Hissène, the rebel leader. He inspects his troops, expressing satisfaction and promising their integration into the regular army if their demands for autonomy and participation in government are met. Hissène uses the weapons they seized during the 2013 coup d'état as leverage in peace talks, emphasizing that the north holds the country's arsenal.
The film crew embarks on a clandestine journey into the rebel-held zone of the Central African Republic, aiming to meet Abdoulaye Hissène, the leader of the FPRC, the most powerful rebel group controlling a third of the country. The perilous 500-kilometer journey through unmaintained tracks highlights the region's abandonment by the central government and the poverty of its villagers. The rebels' daily life, including their meager pay, is also depicted.
A historical overview of the Central African Republic is presented, detailing its size, demographics (Muslim herders in the north vs. Christian farmers in the south), deep-rooted rivalries, and extreme poverty—it's one of the least developed countries globally. The video recounts the numerous coups d'état since independence in 1960, the civil war following the 2013 rebellion, and France's intervention and subsequent withdrawal, leaving the UN struggling to maintain peace.
With 14 rebel groups controlling two-thirds of the territory, even the capital Bangui is volatile. The vacuum left by French withdrawal has been filled by Russia, which provides protection to the president through mercenaries (Wagner company) and gains mining contracts in exchange. The documentary shows how Russia is actively winning over the hearts and minds of Central Africans, even financing beauty contests.
Jean-Serge Bokassa, son of the former emperor Jean-Baudel Bokassa, expresses his displeasure at Russian military presence in his father's imperial palace, now a military base. The segment revisits Bokassa Sr.'s controversial reign and France's role in his overthrow, highlighting the historical ties. At a ceremony honoring Bokassa Sr., Russian emissaries lay a wreath, illustrating Russia's bold presence and growing influence, marginalizing France.
The PK-5 district in Bangui is a commercial hub controlled by well-armed militias led by 'General Force'. The district's inhabitants, mostly Muslims, found refuge there during the civil war and view General Force as their protector. The segment reveals the militias are heavily armed, including child soldiers, and even highlights an assassination attempt on General Force, which he attributes to Russians.
Life in PK-5 is tough, with no electricity, but residents like Ousmane, who lost his family in the civil war, find purpose in defending their community with weapons. Shopkeepers openly carry guns for self-defense. PK-5 residents express disillusionment with the current president's pro-Russian stance and call for France's return, seeing them as their 'father' figure in restoring order.
Moscow's strategy to gain influence is further illustrated by its sponsorship of the Miss Central Africa pageant. The event, supported by a Russian mining company and featuring Miss Russia 2013, signifies Russia's soft power approach. The high ticket prices and low attendance highlight the disconnect between the extravagant event and the country's poverty, yet Miss Russia's presence and the Russian-funded radio broadcast further emphasize Russia's growing cultural and political sway.
The documentary team's previous attempt to report was met with arrest and accusations of espionage, prompting a clandestine return. In rebel territory, they encounter the devastation of villages like Soukoumba, burned and destroyed by the regular army years ago. A rebel named Daoud shares his heartbreaking story of losing his entire family in an army attack, fueling the rebels' fight for peace and protection against what they see as politically motivated hatred between north and south.
Hissène takes the film crew to Birao's only hospital and largest school to illustrate the state's neglect. The hospital, serving a region the size of Switzerland, has only one doctor, while the school has three unpaid teachers for 750 students. Hissène's frustration with the government's abandonment is evident, despite his own forces contributing to the instability.
The rebels finance their activities by levying taxes on goods and local businesses. Traders pay significant quarterly taxes, which are used to buy food for militiamen, who in turn provide security. The documentary then takes a perilous journey to a gold mine, revealing the region's untapped riches. Here, gold miners like Ousmane extract gold using rudimentary methods, earning a substantial income in a single morning, although most profits are taken by middlemen.
In the absence of state institutions, Sultan Mohamed of Birao serves as the province's judicial authority, relying on customary judges. The rebel leader seeks the Sultan's help to mediate a dispute between two families embroiled in violence, highlighting the fragile order. This complex situation showcases the local mechanisms of justice that emerge where central governance is absent.
The delegation travels to a village to resolve a conflict. René recounts a horrifying incident where a young man threw a grenade into a mosque, killing two and fueling retaliatory house burnings. Abdoulaye Hissène lectures the community on the importance of peace and justice, a paradoxical scene given his own history. The episode highlights the challenges of promoting peace and accountability in a war-torn region lacking formal judicial structures.
The appearance of a Russian helicopter near their location raises alarm bells, prompting the team's immediate departure from the country. The Wagner group’s sinister reputation, including the murder of journalists, underscores the growing dangers. The film concludes by noting the ongoing instability, the FPRC's division, General Force's death, and Russia's continued entrenched presence in the president's inner circle.