The Politics of Pillage: the Political Economy of Roadblocks in the Central African Republic by Peer Schouten and Soleil-Perfect Kalessopo
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The Politics of Pillage: the political economy of roadblocks in the Central African Republic By Peer Schouten and Soleil-Perfect Kalessopo 1 Colophon The Politics of Pillage: The political economy of roadblocks in the Central African Republic Antwerp / Bangui, November 2017 Cover photo: Artistic interpretation of a roadblock at Kaga Bandoro, commissioned by Peer Schouten, Kaga Bandoro, September 2016. Authors: this report was written by Peer Schouten (IPIS/DIIS) and Soleil-Parfait Kalessopo (independent consultant), and is based on their research and that of Nicksson Odjo, carried out between September 2016 and August 2017. Acknowledgments: The authors wish to thank those who contributed to this research with their time and expertise. Special thanks to Romain Esmenjaud, Ibrahim Tidjani, Ruben de Koning, Julie Betabelet, Igor Acko, Ben-Bala Martin, Ilyas Oussedik, Antoine Koyambomou, and Guy-Florent Ankogui-Mpoko for their support. Any remaining errors are ours. International Peace Information Service (IPIS) is an independent research institute that provides governmental and non-governmental actors with information and analysis to build sustainable peace and sustainable development in sub-Saharan Africa. IPIS’ research is organized around four programs: Natural Resources, Business and Human Rights, Arms Trade and Security, and Conflict Mapping. Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS) is an independent research institute that provides analysis of international politics. The research is organized around a number of programs that cover topics ranging from natural resources and the environment, to terrorism and migration. The current report is part of a research project around conflict economies in Central Africa. Funding: This report was funded by the US State Department and the Danish National Research Council. All text / photos © the authors; maps © IPIS. D/2017/4320/9 2 Table of contents Colophon ............................................................................................................................................... 2 Abbreviations ....................................................................................................................................... 5 Executive summary .............................................................................................................................. 6 1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 8 1.1 Structure of the report ..............................................................................................................................................8 1.2 Methodological note .................................................................................................................................................9 2. Background .................................................................................................................................... 10 2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................10 2.2 Historical context ......................................................................................................................................................10 2.3 Roadblocks as a source of conflict financing .................................................................................................11 2.4 The central role of transport in the Central African economy...................................................................12 2.5 Roadblocks as an obstacle to development ...................................................................................................12 2.6 Economic circuits at the heart of the conflict .................................................................................................13 Part 1: Main findings .......................................................................................................................... 15 3. Overview of main findings ............................................................................................................ 15 4. The political economy of roadblocks........................................................................................... 17 4.1 Chapter summary .....................................................................................................................................................17 4.2 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................17 4.3 The structure of rackets in the CAR ....................................................................................................................17 4.3.1. Roadblocks .......................................................................................................................................................................................17 4.3.2. ‘Free Passage’ ...................................................................................................................................................................................18 4.3.3. Mandatory escorts ..........................................................................................................................................................................19 4.1 Who is taxed? The case of NGOs .........................................................................................................................19 4.2 Variations between parties to the conflict ...................................................................................................... 20 Variations between actors: example of weekly markets in Ouham-Pendé ......................................................................................21 4.3 Internal governance of roadblock revenues................................................................................................... 22 4.3.1. ‘Laissez piller’: rotation as a payment system ..........................................................................................................................22 4.3.2. How much money does a roadblock generate? Kpokpo – a case study ...........................................................................23 4.4 Competition over roadblocks .............................................................................................................................. 24 Case study: competition between RPRC and UPC ...................................................................................................................................24 PART 2: CASE STUDIES .................................................................................................................................................... 26 5. The cattle circuit ............................................................................................................................ 26 5.1 Chapter summary .................................................................................................................................................... 26 5.2 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................... 27 5.3 The trade circuit ........................................................................................................................................................ 27 5.4 The political economy of cattle........................................................................................................................... 28 5.4.1. Transhumance taxes ......................................................................................................................................................................29 5.4.2. Cattle Market Taxes ........................................................................................................................................................................29 5.4.3. Taxation of cattle transport ..........................................................................................................................................................34 5.5 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................................................. 36 6. 6. The Sudanese circuit ................................................................................................................. 38 6.1 Chapter summary .................................................................................................................................................... 38 6.2 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................... 39 6.3 The political economy of Sudanese trade ....................................................................................................... 39 6.3.1. Birao-Kaga Bandoro ......................................................................................................................................................................39 Case study: taxation of bushmeat ..............................................................................................................................................41 6.3.2. Birao-Bambari: