Obo, Haut-Mbomou: mercenaries fire US-made missile toward Democratic Republic of Congo

In a startling development that has sent shockwaves through the Haut-Mbomou region, mercenaries from the Russian group Wagner fired a surface-to-surface missile from the town of Obo toward the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo. The incident occurred in late February, raising serious questions about the security of abandoned military equipment in the area.

The projectile, believed to be an American-manufactured missile left behind after a past military operation, was launched from a football field in Obo during the night of February 26. The missile traveled over 100 kilometers before landing in Congolese territory near the village of Zapay, with no immediate reports of casualties.

Historical context of the abandoned US military base

The origins of this situation trace back to a multinational counterinsurgency operation known as Observant Compass, which ran from October 2011 to April 2017. This US-led mission aimed to dismantle the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and its infamous leader Joseph Kony in Central Africa. The operation deployed approximately 100 US special forces advisors, including Green Berets with experience in Afghanistan and Pakistan, to support Ugandan military efforts in Uganda, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic.

Obo and Djema in the Central African Republic were key locations for these US troops. The Obo base was heavily fortified with surveillance cameras and barbed wire, serving as a critical hub for tracking LRA movements. Despite the operation’s official conclusion in 2017 and the withdrawal of American forces, Joseph Kony remained at large. In the aftermath, military equipment—including vehicles, various materials, and reportedly at least one surface-to-surface missile—was reportedly left in storage containers at the abandoned base.

Wagner mercenaries take control of the site

Following the US withdrawal, the Central African Armed Forces (FACA) occupied the former American base. However, Wagner Group mercenaries recently arrived in Obo at the invitation of the Haut-Mbomou prefect. The mercenaries forcibly removed FACA troops from the premises and established their own presence in the abandoned facility.

During their occupation, Wagner forces conducted exhaustive searches of the storage containers, recovering weapons, solar panels, and other equipment. Local sources indicate that the prefect had publicly announced plans for Wagner to conduct test firings of discovered weapons—retaining functional arms while discarding defective ones.

Strategic targeting raises regional concerns

The missile launch from Obo’s football field was not arbitrary. The trajectory deliberately avoided nearby Congolese settlements, with the projectile landing five kilometers from Zapay in a forested area of the Democratic Republic of Congo. This choice of impact zone suggests a calculated decision to minimize immediate collateral damage on the Central African side, while still demonstrating Wagner’s capabilities across international borders.

In Zapay, the missile’s impact has instilled fear among residents, many of whom are Central African refugees who fled Wagner’s operations in their home country. The incident serves as a stark reminder that Wagner’s reach knows no borders.

Local witnesses confirm that Wagner mercenaries were responsible for the launch, with no other armed group in Obo possessing the capability to fire such a projectile across an international border. Families in Zapay spent the night in anxious vigil, uncertain whether additional launches might follow.

Unanswered questions and regional implications

The incident raises critical questions about the security of abandoned military sites in conflict zones and the potential misuse of left-behind equipment. With Wagner’s presence expanding in the Central African Republic, neighboring countries must now consider the implications of such actions on regional stability.

As authorities investigate the origin and handling of the missile, one fact remains clear: Wagner’s control of this former US military base has transformed a seemingly abandoned Cold War-era relic into a potential flashpoint for cross-border tensions.