Abstract. The article analyzes how the “economy of war” evolved in the Central African Republic (CAR) that has suffered from an armed conflict since 2012. The conflict involved the central government, “Seleka” (later “ex-Seleka”) and “Antibalaka” rebel coalitions, communal militias, criminal groups and other actors. The CAR case study illustrates a broader trend of how, in absence of governmental control over peripheral regions, a political-military conflict transforms into a “war of all against all” for access to rich natural resources and for gaining opportunities for illicit exploitation of these resources. In conclusion, the authors assess significance of the “economy of war” for CAR’s national economy and its impact on the socio-economic position of the country’s citizens.