In the remote town of Obo, Haut-Mbomou, a startling incident unfolded last week when Russian mercenaries—operating under the Wagner Group—launched a surface-to-surface missile toward neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The projectile originated from an abandoned American military base, now occupied by these mercenaries, triggering alarm in both countries.
An abandoned US outpost becomes a volatile hotspot
The missile was reportedly fired from a site that once housed US special forces during Operation Observant Compass, a multinational counterinsurgency mission active from 2011 to 2017. The operation, aimed at dismantling the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and its notorious leader Joseph Kony, saw American Green Berets deployed across Uganda, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic. Their presence in Obo included fortified barracks, surveillance systems, and strategic stockpiles of equipment.
When the operation concluded in 2017, US forces withdrew, leaving behind vehicles, solar panels, and—according to local reports—undocumented weapons, including at least one surface-to-surface missile, stored in sealed containers. The abandoned base was subsequently handed over to the Central African Armed Forces (FACA), but their control was short-lived.
Wagner mercenaries seize control and uncover hidden arsenal
Months ago, Russian mercenaries affiliated with the Wagner Group arrived in Obo under an agreement with local authorities. Their mandate included securing the region and testing recovered military equipment. Eyewitnesses recount how the mercenaries systematically searched the abandoned containers, retrieving usable weapons while discarding defective ones. Public statements by local officials had even foreshadowed the upcoming tests.
On the night of February 26, the mercenaries assembled a heavy-caliber weapon on Obo’s soccer field—a public venue in full view of residents. With minimal concealment, they fired the missile into the night sky. The projectile soared over the towns of Mboki and Zemio before crossing into Congolese territory, landing five kilometers from the village of Zapay without causing immediate casualties.
A deliberate trajectory designed to avoid collateral damage
The missile’s flight path was not random. By aiming toward the DRC rather than northern Central Africa, the operators ensured the projectile would land deep within Congolese jungle terrain, minimizing risks to local populations. Zapay, a village already sheltering Central African refugees fleeing Wagner’s operations, became the unintended landing zone. The attack has left residents in fear, questioning whether the strike was a deliberate message or a reckless display of force.
Who fired the missile—and why?
Only Wagner forces in Obo possess the technical capability and firepower to launch such a long-range projectile across an international border. Local witnesses confirmed the mercenaries were solely responsible for positioning, loading, and firing the missile. There is no indication that FACA or any other armed group in the area has access to comparable weaponry.
In Zapay, families spent the night scanning the skies, unsure whether another projectile might follow. The incident has raised urgent questions about the presence of foreign armed groups in Central Africa and the unchecked use of abandoned military stockpiles in volatile border regions.
