Mahamat Saleh Adoum Kette is a Central African warlord, and a general in the rebel group Popular Front for the Rebirth of Central African Republic (FPRC). He is responsible for multiple war crimes including murder, rape, forced marriage, torture and looting.
Life Early life He is a son of Abba Adoum Kette,Centrafrique : La France joue t-elle franc-jeu avec la Centrafrique?, 11 January 2021 an influential diamond collector from Bria, and allegedly a brother of Abdoulaye Hissène.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 Born in Nzacko in Mbomou prefecture, he was formerly an artisan miner and diamond collector.The Central African Crisis: From Predation to Stabilisation
Central African Republic Bush War During the Central African Republic Bush War he led faction of Convention of Patriots for Justice and Peace (CPJP) based in Nzacko. He commanded around 500 men.Central African Republic: Violence Marks Lead Up to Elections, 28 August 2011 On 13 August 2011 he arrived in Bangui as representative of CPJP to negotiate peace.Un nouvel accord de paix en vue avec une branche de la CPJP, 14 August 2011 On 3 February 2012 his fighters attacked Nzacko clashing with armed forces.Les FACA et la CPJP s’affrontent à Zacko, 3 February 2012
Central African Republic Civil War (2012–present) During Séléka occupation of Bangui in 2013 Mahamat Saleh was overseeing CEDAD compound under command of Mahamat Said, where there were reports of torture and disappearances. He was arresting perceived Bozizé's supporters in the city.ICC-01/14-01/21, 21 September 2021 He was Noureddine Adam's chief of security and member of his cabinet.ICC-01/14-01/21 In 2015 he attended Nairobi talks as a FPRC representative.Letter dated 21 December 2015 from the Panel of Experts on the Central African Republic extended pursuant to Security Council resolution 2196 (2015) addressed to the President of the Security Council In December 2016 he clashed in Nzacko with UPC fighters.Centrafrique: la population de Bakouma s’inquiète de la présence massive des éléments de l’UPC, 21 January 2017 He participated in occupation of Bakouma from December 2019 to January 2020. On 3 February 2020 he shot at group of Goula people in Nzacko killing three of them. He also held at gunpoint group of Goula women, raping two underage girls.Letter dated 8 July 2020 from the Panel of Experts on the Central African Republic extended pursuant to resolution 2507 (2020) addressed to the President of the Security Council In August 2020 his fighters expelled officials responsible for voting registration from Yalinga and Nzacko.RCA : une équipe des agents recenseurs et tablettes chassés dans les villes de Yalinga et de Nzacko par des rebelles, 28 August 2020
In December 2020 he joined Coalition of Patriots for Change. He order his fighters to seize Bakouma in late December. On 3 January 2021 his fighters occupied Bangassou where they engaged in widespread looting and taxation of population. On 17 January he withdrew from Bangassou towards Niakari where his fighters reportedly engaged in forced marriage of a minor. On 18 January his fighters fired at UN forces at Mbari bridge killing two peacekeeper. He again clashed with them on 19 and 30 January. On 20 February he withdrew from Niakari and moved between Yalinga and Nzacko.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 In May his forces were reportedly present in Gbogbo village on Yalinga axis engaging in widespread looting of the population.RCA : les populations du village Gbogbo, exaspérées par les exactions des rebelles du CPC, appellent le gouvernement à l’aide, 11 May 2021 On 24 June he arrived at Sans-Souci village near Bria where his fighters were ambushed by Russian mercenaries. He managed to flee via river.RCA : une nouvelle scène de débandade des rebelles de la CPC à Aïgbado, 25 June 2021 On 14 January 2022 his fighters raped 16 underage girls in Nzacko.RCA : reprise des exactions des rebelles de la CPC à Nzacko, une dizaine des filles violées, les commerçants rançonnés On 8 March 2022 his forces returned to Nzacko after Russians left the town.RCA : panique à Zacko, les mercenaires russes viennent de quitter, retour des rebelles dans la ville, exaction en masse, 10 March 2022 On 21 May his forces attacked Nzacko killing 11 soldiers.Dernières minutes : nouvelle attaque des rebelles contre les positions de l’armée nationale à Nzako, une dizaine des morts, 21 May 2022 From 8 to 9 December his forces clashed with Russian mercenaries in Akocho site north of Bria with 50 people killed on both sides.Centrafrique : violent affrontement à 100 kilomètres de Bria, près de 50 morts, 11 December 2022
The UK government imposed sanctions on Mahamat Saleh for overseeing "rape and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence" on 8 March 2023.
On 12 May 2023, he left the CPC due to the lack of trust and the absence of loyalty, clarity, and transparency within the group.
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