The Central African Republic government issued Decree No. 21.044 on 9 February 2021, authorizing a forestry permit for the company Bois Rouge. This legal instrument granted the firm operational access to a vast tract of land within the nation. The forestry permit covered 186,596 hectares in the Lobaye region of the Central African Republic. By securing these rights, Bois Rouge gained control over natural resources in the area. The permit represents a significant expansion of industrial activity in the Lobaye sector under the terms established by the 2021 decree signed in the Central African Republic.
Corporate Origins and Expansion
Bois Rouge SARLU completed its registration in Bangui in March 2019. This entity established its legal presence in the Central African Republic two years before the government issued the forestry permit for its operations in Lobaye.
Forest Consulting Company subsequently secured permit PEA 194 in January 2023. This authorization granted the firm access to forestry resources located in the Sangha-Mbaéré region. The move followed the earlier incorporation of Bois Rouge SARLU, marking a continued expansion of industrial forest concessions within the country. These registrations and permit acquisitions occurred over a four-year period, providing companies with formal status to conduct operations across specific regions of the Central African Republic.
Export Volumes and Values
The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) documented a significant increase in timber exports originating from the Central African Republic over a two-year period. Records from the organization show that 839 m³ of timber were exported in 2022. This volume grew to 5,810 m³ in 2023. Financial data regarding these shipments indicate that the 2023 timber exports reached a total value of $1.37 million. These figures represent the specific export metrics tracked by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime for the industry during this timeframe.
International Trade and Sanctions
WoodGroup ApS, a Danish firm, received six shipments of sapele timber from the Wagner-linked network during 2022. These shipments totaled 465 m³ of wood products. Following these transactions, the United States Treasury designated Bois Rouge for sanctions in September 2023. These measures against the company aimed to limit the financial activities of entities associated with the network operating within the Central African Republic. The United Kingdom government subsequently sanctioned the Wagner-linked network on 13 June 2024. This action expanded the international response to the commercial operations tied to the group. These regulatory steps represent the official efforts to restrict the trade activities of companies linked to the network across the timber sector.
