People's Army for the Restoration of Democracy (CAR)

People's Army for the Restoration of Democracy (APRD)
'Armée Populaire pour la restauration de la démocratie Participant in Central African Republic Bush War
Active	January 2006 – 2008
Originated as	Presidential Guard
Allies	Democratic Front of the Central African People (FDPC), Union of Democratic Forces for Unity (UFDR)
Opponents	Central African Armed Forces

The People's Army for the Restoration of Democracy APRD (fr. L’Armée Populaire pour la restauration de la démocratie) is a rebel group operating in the northwest Central African Republic (CAR). The APRD was formed in 2006 following the 2003 coup which overthrew President Ange-Félix Patassé. It is one of several groups which fought in the 2004-2007 Central African Republic Bush War. Initially claiming it wished to overthrow current CAR President François Bozizé, the APRD was the last of the three rebel coalitions to engage in the 2007 peace process. The group participated in the 2008 Inclusive Peace Dialog, and in early 2009 entered a coalition government with Bozizé and other civil and military oppositions groups.

The APRD was initially formed of elements of the Patassé's former Presidential Guard, along with autonomous semi-armed community defense groups of the northeast of the CAR. Between these two elements, the APRD fielded around a thousand fighters, most poorly armed. The APRD initially appeared in an attack on government forces in the northeastern town of Paoua in January 2006. Initially led by former presidential guard lieutenant Florian Djadder, the APRD became a coalition of former Patassé loyalists, and local northeastern groups, some armed only with homemade weapons, who had appeared after CAR army attacks on northern towns in 2006. From 2006, the APRD was one of three politico-military fronts engaged in a war against the government of the CAR. These other groups were the Democratic Front of the Central African People (FDPC) led by Abdoulaye Miskine and the Union of Democratic Forces for Unity (UFDR) led by Zakaria Damane, both based in the northeast of the nation, near the regional center of Birao. During the 2006–2007 fighting, the APRD was accused of using child soldiers and a number of human rights abuses. The APRD in turn, accused the government of widespread attacks upon civilians and human rights violations. Low level fighting between the government, the APRD, and armed criminal gangs continued sporadically in Ouham, Ouham-Pende, and Nana-Grebizi Departments throughout 2006, and up until the 2008 cease fire. Human Rights Watch has reported that APRD bands have not only attacked government targets, but systematically extorted taxation from local people, looted villages and stolen herds. In response "CAR security forces have committed serious and widespread abuses against the civilian population, including multiple summary executions and unlawful killings, widespread burning of civilian homes, and the forced displacement of hundreds of thousands of persons, instilling terror in the civilian population."

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