A recent missile launch in Obo, Haut-Mbomou, has raised concerns across the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Reports indicate that Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group fired a surface-to-surface missile from the town, targeting a remote area in the DRC.
Unearthed weapons from a forgotten chapter
The missile, identified as an American-made surface-to-surface projectile, was reportedly retrieved from a long-abandoned military base that once housed U.S. special forces. Between 2011 and 2017, American military personnel stationed in Obo were part of Operation Observant Compass, a multinational mission aimed at dismantling the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and its notorious leader, Joseph Kony.
The base, fortified with surveillance cameras and barbed wire, served as a key operational hub for U.S. Green Berets. However, after the mission’s conclusion in 2017, equipment—including vehicles, communications gear, and, according to local sources, at least one surface-to-surface missile—was left in storage containers and abandoned on-site.
Wagner’s arrival and the takeover of the base
Following the departure of U.S. forces, the base was occupied by Central African Armed Forces (FACA). However, the arrival of Wagner mercenaries—deployed at the request of local authorities—changed the dynamics in the region. The Russian fighters evicted FACA troops, seized control of the facility, and began sifting through the abandoned containers.
Local accounts suggest that the Wagner operatives were instructed to test-fire weapons recovered from the site. The missile launch on February 26 occurred in broad daylight, witnessed by residents of Obo. The projectile soared over multiple towns, including Mboki and Zemio, before crossing into Congolese territory and landing near the village of Zapay—approximately 5 kilometers from the border.
Fears and consequences in the Congo
The impact in Zapay has left locals on edge, particularly refugees from the Central African Republic who fled violence linked to Wagner’s operations. The deliberate targeting of Congolese soil has raised questions about the mercenaries’ intentions, with some interpreting the strike as a message of unrestricted reach.
Witnesses confirmed that only Wagner forces in the area possess the capability to operate such heavy weaponry. The absence of alternative explanations underscores the gravity of the incident, which has heightened tensions along the porous border between the two nations.
A chilling reminder of past conflicts
This event serves as a stark reminder of the lingering consequences of past military operations in the region. The abandoned U.S. base in Obo now stands as a symbol of unresolved security challenges, with its former contents repurposed in ways that continue to destabilize neighboring communities.
