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UNOPS in the CAR Under Scrutiny

By Yannick DORÉ | LNC Translated into English by Karen Ann SULLIVAN l LNC

(Bangui, August 10, 2026 | LNC) Tensions are rising between the Central African Republic and the United Nations. On August 7, speaking through spokesperson Évariste Ngamana, the Bangui government officially accused the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) of deliberately stalling several major road construction projects in the country's northeast. The authorities' anger stems from the halt in work on routes that are highly strategic for opening up isolated areas and ensuring territorial security. Stalled projects include the rehabilitation of the Ndélé-Ouadda road, the construction of four bridges on the M'brès-Ndélé route, and—more broadly—the massive Kaga-Bandoro–Ndélé–Birao–Sudan corridor project launched in 2024. The interruption of these projects comes at the worst possible time: in the middle of the rainy season, as the region faces severe security instability and a massive influx of refugees fleeing the war in Sudan. Without these roads, humanitarian aid is blocked, and the Central African Armed Forces (FACA) are unable to deploy the heavy equipment needed to secure the border. While the government alleges political obstruction, the reality on the ground stems directly from an unprecedented internal crisis within the UN agency. In early August, a surprise international audit uncovered a network of 400 "ghost employees" on the payrolls of UNOPS projects in the CAR. This fraudulent scheme, which had been operating for over eight years, reportedly cost an astronomical 14 billion CFA francs (approximately 24 million US dollars). This discovery has triggered a major management upheaval. In late May 2026, the UNOPS Country Director was suspended and placed on administrative leave. To stem the financial hemorrhaging, UN inspectors imposed strict controls, requiring physical verification of original identification documents for every salary payment. This bureaucratic tightening caused a cascade of payment delays, prompting workers and intermediaries in remote provinces—such as Birao—to abandon construction sites. For the Central African government, the situation presents an ideal opportunity to shift the balance of power in its dealings with international institutions. While the World Bank, the IMF, and the UN churn out critical reports on local governance, Bangui is relishing the turn of the tables: those who once lectured others are now ensnared by their own internal corruption. Yet, the economic paradox remains. Although Bangui is asserting itself in the name of sovereignty, the project is entirely funded by a World Bank loan that the Central African state will ultimately have to repay. Meanwhile, public pressure is mounting on the Minister of Public Works, Arthur Bertrand Piri, due to the ongoing deterioration of the road network. For the government, proving UNOPS's culpability has become a matter of urgent necessity to preserve its credibility, particularly as the country seeks to mobilize 7,000 billion CFA francs for its five-year development plan.

Courtesy of the LAMINE MEDIA economics desk

LNC

Date: August 10, 2026

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