Government accepts bitcoin as legal tender.

Government begins Republican Dialogue for Reconciliation forum, though the opposition boycotts it because no rebel groups are invited.

EU ends training mission in Central African Republic over the country’s acceptance of Russian mercenaries.

US, UK, and France accuse Russia of sending mercenaries to fight in the Central African Republic and that they have committed atrocities.

Russian mercenaries said to be aiding military and participating in indiscriminate killings in the search for Seleka members.

France suspends military and financial aid, citing an anti-French campaign by the government.

Continued fighting with rebels attempting to surround Bangui.

Pro-François Bozizé forces attack the capital, Bangui, with fighting reported on multiple fronts, according to Prime Minister Firmin Ngrébada. There are reports of explosions and helicopters circling over the city.

Election commission announces that Touadéra has won re-election with nearly 54% of the vote.

Bozizé being investigated by the government for rebellion during the election.

Rebels allied with Bozizé attempt to take Bangassou, a city on the border the Democrati Republic of Congo.

Opposition coalition Democratic Opposition Coalition (COD-2020) calls for annulment of election due to fraud and insecurity about danger of voting. The coalition includes five former presidents, including Bozizé.

General election. Pres Touadera is considered to be leading in polls. His main challenger (of 17) is Anicet Georges Dologuele, a former prime minister who finished runner-up in 2016 and is supported by former Pres Bozize. Attacks by armed groups opposed to Touadera and possibly allied with Bozize force closure of more than 800 polling stations, according to later reports, calling the outcome into question.

Three armed militias join to form the Coalition of Patriots for Change. Some believe that former president Bozizé is attempting a coup.

Touadera announces his candidacy for a second term, running on the Mouvement Cœurs Unis (MCU) party.

Former president Francois Bozize is named candidate for president by his Kwa Na Kwa party.

Concern that COVID-19 could devastate the country because it is woefully underprepared for a large-scale spread of the disease. As of this date, it has only 14 confirmed cases.

Protestors call for UN staff to leave, accusing them of sabotaging peace agreement with rebels.

Former president François Bozizé returns after seven years in exile and asks for forgiveness and suggests he might run for president. He is still under UN sanctions.

Government declares a national emergency due to a measles outbreak.-

Former president François Bozizé has returned from exile, according to spokesman of his Kwa Na Kwa party.

Government declares national emergency after flooding. PM Firmin Ngrebada calls for international aid.

Dissatisfaction with new government among several of the armed groups, who have reneged on their agreement, including the Popular Front for the Renaissance of the Central African Republic, which accuses the government of bad faith in retaining several former cabinet members. The government says it is open to discussions.

An inclusive cabinet composed of representatives from major competing groups is formed: Maxime Mokom, leader of the armed anti-balaka group is named Minister for Disarmament, De-mobilization, Re-integration and Repatriation; Souleymane Daouda, of the militant Unity for Peace in the Central African Republic (one of the largest groups) is Minister for Livestock; 0Hamza Guismala, of the armed Popular Front for the Renaissance of the Central African Republic (another of the largest factions), is energy minister; Adama Chaibou of the Patriotic Movement for the Central African Republic is Minister for Modernization; and Bertin Béa, of Bozizé’s party Kwa Na Kwa, is Minister for Public Service. Firmin Ngrebada, Touadera’s former Cabinet director, is named prime minister. Several important current ministers remain in their posts.

Government signs new peace agreement, the Khartoum agreement, with fourteen armed groups.

Chad and the Central African Republic threaten to end traffic with Cameroon port of Doula because of rampant corruption.

New speaker of parliament is El Hadj Laurent Ngon-Baba, the president of the Development Action Party, PAD, and a long-time civil servant.

Former Seleka rebels denounce Meckassoua’s dismissal. Meckassoua, a Muslim, was seen as someone who could bridge the sectarian divide. But almost all the Assembly members who voted against him were Christians. Meckassoua has called the move illegal and is taking judicial action to change it.

President of the National Assembly Karim Meckassoua is dismissed by the Assembly.

Russia continues to expand its military assistance to the Central African Republic, its largest involvement in Africa. The truce with rebels was brokered by Russia and Sudan.

UN says that violence continues in Central region of CAR, with clashes between ex-Selaka, a Muslim militant group, and anti-Balaka, Christian militant, forces. Since 2014, the ex-Selaka forces control the northeast and the anti-Balaka in the southwest.

Some ex-Selaka and one anti-Balaka leaders sign a “declaration of understanding” to “create a common framework for dialogue and action for a real and lasting peace” under the auspices of Russia, which has been advising the CAR military. Though the Muslim militant group, Selaka, that ousted President Bozizé in 2013, many refused to disarm and became known as the ex-Selaka. Others, also refusing to disarm joined the Christian anti-Balaka forces to fight Selaka. The ex-Seleka signatories were: Noureddine Adam, leader of the Popular Front for the Rebirth of the Central African Republic (FPRC); Ali Darass leader of the Union for Peace in the Central African Republic (UPC); Mahamat Al-Khatim leader of the Patriotic Movement for the Central African Republic (MPC); and Abdoulaye Hissène, chairman of the FPRC’s National Defense and Security Council (FPRC-CNDS). The anti-Balaka signatory was Maxime Mokom, who heads one of the largest anti-Balaka armed groups. Together the groups now form the Rassemblement Centrafricain, the Central African Rally.

Government creates a tribunal to investigate war crimes during the ethnic and religious fighting of the last decade.

Attempted coup thwarted. Instigation is variously placed on mercenaries from Chad, Sudan, Cameroon and/or the Central African Republic, organized by Guinean opposition groups.

Constitutional Court validates results and affirms Touadéra as president.

Touadéra wins run-off, having received the support of many other former candidates, with 63% of the vote.

Transitional Constitutional Court approves election results.

National Election Authority places Anicet Georges Dologuélé of the Union for Central African Renewal first with 24% of the vote and Touadéra second with 19.4%.

Faustin-Archange Touadéra, an independent candidate, wins about 23% of the vote, placing first among a large group of candidates. A run-off will be held on 2/20/16.