Military escalation in Haut-Mbomou
The town of Obo, situated in the Haut-Mbomou region of the Central African Republic, became the site of a significant military incident when Russian mercenaries deployed a surface-to-surface missile. The projectile was fired directly toward the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), creating a wave of panic among residents on both sides of the frontier.
The legacy of Operation Observant Compass
The presence of such advanced weaponry in this remote area dates back to a multinational effort known as Operation Observant Compass. Between 2011 and 2017, elite United States special forces, including Green Berets, were stationed in Obo to track Joseph Kony, the notorious leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).
When the American mission concluded in April 2017, the troops withdrew, but substantial military assets remained. Local reports indicate that containers filled with vehicles and various armaments—including at least one surface-to-surface missile—were left behind at their former base.
Wagner takes control of the former base
Following the US departure, the Central African Armed Forces (FACA) initially occupied the facility. However, the arrival of Wagner group mercenaries changed the dynamics. After being summoned by the local prefect, these Russian forces evicted the FACA soldiers and took command of the abandoned American installation.
The mercenaries began a systematic inventory of the left-behind containers, seizing solar panels and weaponry. Prior to the launch, it was publicly known that the Wagner forces intended to conduct test fires to determine which recovered weapons were still functional and which should be discarded.
A night of terror in Obo and Zapay
On the evening of Thursday, February 26, the situation escalated. In full view of the public, the Wagner mercenaries positioned a heavy weapon on the local football pitch in Obo. The launch produced a massive streak of light that was visible across several neighborhoods as the missile soared over Mboki and Zemio before crossing the border.
The projectile eventually landed roughly five kilometers from the Congolese village of Zapay. While no casualties have been confirmed at this stage, the impact has left the local population in a state of high alert. Zapay is home to many Central African refugees who previously fled Wagner‘s activities, and many now fear that the border offers no protection from the group’s reach.
Evidence from the ground confirms that only the Wagner militia possesses the technical expertise and equipment required to launch such a long-range projectile in this region. Witnesses clearly identified the mercenaries as they maneuvered the weapon and initiated the strike toward the DRC, leaving no doubt about the origin of the fire.
