Clashes in the Central African Republic between a militia, the army and Russian Wagner Group mercenaries since last month’s elections have left one person dead, the authorities said on Wednesday.

Deputy prosecutor Alain Tolmo said Azande Ani Kpi Gbe (AAKG) fighters are believed to have carried out “targeted attacks” on local security forces, state officials, soldiers and police since December 28.

The first attack took place on polling day in remote Bambouti, some 1,300 kilometres (800 miles) from the capital Bangui, until they were driven out several days later by Wagner fighters and CAR troops, analyst Fulbert Ngodji, from the International Crisis Group think tank, told AFP.

Zemio, a town located on the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, was attacked shortly afterwards and clashes remain ongoing there.

“A census officer was killed,” Tolmo said, adding “the prefect of Zemio and other government officials were taken hostage.

“These acts have caused great fear among the population and displacement to the local Catholic church,” he added.

The AAKG group is from the Zande community, the majority ethnic group in the area which is also present in the DRC and also neighbouring South Sudan.

“Feeling they have been abandoned by the state, young Zande formed a self-defence militia in March 2023,” Ngodji said in a November 2025 report.

The following year, they joined the Central African army only to be suspended in May 2025 and “the militia wants to show the state it controls the territory,” said Ngodji, warning the group could move from making community-level demands to become “an armed group opposed to the government”.

Stabilising the country is the main challenge facing President Faustin-Archange Touadera as he embarks upon his third term in office following his re-election.