(Ecofin Agency) - • CAR signs $2.5B agreement with American Eagle Business Solutions for new airport
• Project marks shift from China-led model to diversified global partnerships
• Planned Boboula airport to improve access, expand aviation beyond Bangui

The Central African Republic (CAR) is expanding its international partnerships to relaunch its aviation sector, historically limited to a single international airport. On May 21, the government signed a $2.5 billion investment framework agreement with American Eagle Business Solutions (AEBS) for the construction of a new international airport in Boboula, located in the Ouham region in the country’s northwest.

The project follows an earlier 2024 agreement with an Emirati investor for a separate airport located 65 km from Bangui. Together, these initiatives signal a shift from CAR’s historical reliance on Chinese and multilateral funding toward a more diversified strategy involving Gulf and U.S.-based partners.

The Boboula project will be executed as a public-private partnership (PPP), with AEBS responsible for the entire development process—from feasibility studies to final commissioning. The company is already active in the sub-region.

Currently, the country’s only international airport, Bangui-M’Poko, has operated since 1971 and offers direct flights to just six African destinations. The new infrastructure aims to extend air connectivity to underserved regions, particularly the northwest, and improve CAR’s integration into regional economic frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Despite its ambition, the project faces implementation challenges. Only 3% of CAR’s 24,000-km road network is paved, potentially limiting logistics. Broader constraints also include deficits in energy, transportation, and basic public services. While institutions such as the African Development Bank, World Bank, and EU are supporting various infrastructure projects, national budget capacity remains limited.

Security remains a concern. The Boboula region has experienced conflict over the past decade. Although conditions have improved recently, long-term infrastructure development will require sustained safety guarantees.