Abdoulaye Hissène

Abdoulaye Hissène (born Akourousoulba, 1 January 1967) is a former Central African warlord, general in the Popular Front for the Rebirth of Central African Republic (FPRC), minister of youth, sanctioned by international institutions for committing multiple war crimes.

Abdoulaye Hissène
FPRC general
In office
2014–2023
Minister of Youth and Sports
In office
31 March 2013 – 10 January 2014
PresidentMichel Djotodia
Prime MinisterNicolas Tiangaye
Preceded byPatrice-Edouard Ngaïssona
Succeeded byArmel Ningatoloum Sayo
Personal details
Born (1967-01-01) January 1, 1967
Akourousoulba, Bamingui-Bangoran
NationalityCentral African Republic

Life

He was born on 1 January 1967[1] in Akourousoulba village near the border with Chad. He is a Muslim and belongs to the Runga ethnic group. His father was an environmental guard responsible for supervising protected areas in the region. When he was young, Hissène's father taught him and his siblings hunting and use of weapons. According to other sources his father was Abba Adoum Kette, influential diamond collector from Bria. Another his son was reportedly Mahamet Saleh.[2] In the 1990s and 2000s, Hissène pursued a career in the mineral trade like his uncle. He worked as a trader of diamonds and gold for the Central African company SODIAM. After accumulating multiple debts he fled to Chad in 2009 to avoid paying them back. In his 40s, he started selling luxury cars, during which he formed business connections with the entourage of president of Chad, Idriss Déby, and influential businessmen. Using fake Chadian IDs, he opened two bank accounts that he used between 2009 and 2010, one in Société Générale and the other in the United Bank of Africa (UBA) in the capital of Chad, N’djamena.

Civil war

In 2009 he joined Central African rebel group Convention of Patriots for Justice and Peace (CPJP). He declared himself president of CPJP in 2011. From 2009 to 2012 he obtained fortune from diamond trade, with his fighters responsible for multiple war crimes. In August 2012 he received ministerial post as a part of peace deal with the government. From March 2013 to January 2014 he served as a youth and sports minister under Djotodia presidency. From February to August 2014 he served as a minister and presidential adviser for youth under Samba-Panza presidency. In June 2014 he was nominated first counselor to the Popular Front for the Rebirth of Central African Republic (FPRC), new ex-Seleka group.[3]

In September 2015 he ordered his fighters to kill a 17-year old Muslim boy in Bangui and spread rumors that Anti-balaka did it to instigate violence in the capital. He ordered his fighters to shoot at people participating in referendum on 17 December 2015, killing at least five of them.[3] On 15 March 2016 he was arrested by police before his fighters forced his release. On 19 June 2016 fighters led by him and Gaye kidnapped five police officers in Bangui.[4]

On 12 August 2016 he decided to escape PK5 district. Together with Haroun Gaye and Hamit Tidjani they painted seven vehicles white in order to resemble UN vehicles. 35 heavily armed ex-Seleka fighter left in total. While passing through PK12 checkpoint soldier fired at them killing on fighter. In Damara they again clashed with soldiers. One fighter who fell off vehicle was killed by Anti-balaka. In Sibut MINUSCA stopped them. They abandoned their vehicles. MINUSCA arrested 11 fighters, but Gaye and Hissène managed to escape on foot. In early September 2016 he arrived N'Délé together with Gaye. From there the group supposedly travelled to Sikikede in Vakaga prefecture where they met with Noureddine Adam, before going to Bria to attend ex-Séléka General Assembly.[2] In November 2016 during clashes in Bria he ordered groups of militiamen to kill Fula civilians. He stoked ethnic tensions, encouraging Anti-balaka fighters to attack UPC armed group.[3] In 2019 he married daughter of sultan of Birao.[5]

In 2020 he refused to join Coalition of Patriots for Change. In February 2021 he blocked a weapon shipment designated for CPC fighters.[6] On 28 April 2023 he announced dissolution of his faction of FPRC.[7]

On 5 September 2023 he was arrested in Bangui.[8] He was accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity.[9]

References
  1. Abdoulaye HISSENE, OpenSanctions
  2. Letter dated 5 December 2016 from the Panel of Experts on the Central African Republic extended pursuant to Security Council resolution 2262 (2016) addressed to the President of the Security Council
  3. War Profiteering and the Bloody Rise of Abdoulaye Hissène
  4. ABDOULAYE HISSENE
  5. Letter dated 6 December 2019 from the Panel of Experts on the Central African Republic extended pursuant to resolution 2454 (2019) addressed to the President of the Security Council
  6. Letter dated 25 June 2021 from the Panel of Experts on the Central African Republic extended pursuant to resolution 2536 (2020) addressed to the President of the Security Council
  7. Centrafrique : dissolution de cinq groupes armés, 1 May 2023
  8. Abdoulaye Hissen, ancien chef rebelle et allié du Président, arrêté à Bangui, 5 September 2023
  9. RCA: Abdoulaye Hissene inculpé pour des crimes contre l’humanité et crimes de guerre par la CPS, 8 September 2023
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