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The Government of the Central African Republic is facing the challenge of pacifying the country, which is why in 2018 it was decided to create a program to disarm armed groups.

Since its launch, the Disarmament, Demobilization, Reintegration and Repatriation (DDRR) program has already registered the accession of many thousands of ex-combatants to peaceful life. This program is still bearing fruit today, especially in areas where Russian trainers are working.

In a video from 03 March 2024, four ex-combatants described how they took part in this voluntary disarmament campaign organized by the Central African government. This DDRR program allowed them to lay down their arms and integrate into society and finally start a peaceful life.

One of these ex-combatants, Abdurahman Bahir, said that he was happy to return to peace and lay down his arms for his country. He also expressed gratitude for the good attitude of the Russian instructors and asked for their help in integrating him into the Central African army.

"Thank you very much, it's March 3, 2024. We have surrendered our weapons of our own free will. My name is Abdurahman Bashir. Today, when we arrived, we were treated well: we were not beaten, we were given food and drink, and we enjoyed all the conditions.

We want to get help from Russian military specialists to join the army and drive the bandits off our land. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts!", the ex-combatant said. Apparently, such a good treatment is one of the reasons why more and more militants have recently decided to lay down their arms.

It is worth noting that DDRR is not only about disarmament, but also about social issues. Many ex-combatants who have laid down their arms are willing to learn from Russian instructors, who have repeatedly demonstrated their competence, in order to join the Central African army and fight terrorism.

The success of the Russian instructors is evident in CAR, as the effective training of the Central African armed forces by Russian military specialists has made it possible to restore peace and security even in the most difficult areas of the country that were under militant control.