Central African National Assembly President Simplice Mathieu Sarandji (C) and the representative of Russian instructors deployed in the Central African Republic Alexandre Ivanov (L) and First Vice President of the National Assembly Evariste Ngamana (R) pose for a photograph on the steps of the National Assembly in Bangui on 15 October 2021. Photo: AFP
Central Africa takes aim at France in Russian ‘mercenary’ row
“The Russian experience is very beneficial for the Central African treasury,”, Moscow has said there are 1 135 “unarmed instructors” in CAR
Central African National Assembly President Simplice Mathieu Sarandji (C) and the representative of Russian instructors deployed in the Central African Republic Alexandre Ivanov (L) and First Vice President of the National Assembly Evariste Ngamana (R) pose for a photograph on the steps of the National Assembly in Bangui on 15 October 2021. Photo: AFP
The Central African Republic hit back at France on Tuesday, accusing its foreign minister of trying to “infantilise” the West African nation in a long-running dispute over the presence of Russian paramilitaries.
Moscow has sent “military instructors” to the CAR, one of the world’s poorest countries, since 2018. They were followed 10 months ago by hundreds of paramilitaries at Bangui’s request to help put down a menacing rebellion.
HELP FROM FRANCE AND RUSSIA
With the rebels closing in on the capital Bangui, the president called for help from Russia and Rwanda, which sent paramilitaries and soldiers to rescue the floundering national army.
France, the former colonial power, and the United Nations have branded the paramilitaries “mercenaries” from the private security firm Wagner and accused them of violence against civilians.
“There is a determination… and a willingness to infantilise the Central African Republic and its authorities which must stop,” CAR Foreign Minister Sylvie Mbaipo-Temon told AFP by telephone.
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FRANCE, RUSSIA TAKE OVER
The comments came in reaction to her French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian who claimed the paramilitaries may take over the role of the authorities.
“When they enter into a country, they multiply abuses, exactions, depradations in order sometimes to even take over the role of the authority in the country,” Le Drian said on Sunday.
RUSSIA’S ACCOUNT
“Wagner is firstly a company of Russian mercenaries which makes war by proxy on Russia’s account, even if Russia denies it, nobody is fooled,” he added.
“The most spectacular example is the Central African Repubic, where finally in order to be paid they are taking over the fiscal capacity of the state.”
Mbaipo-Temon said she was “astonished” by the “extreme reaction” and “lies” of Le Drian.
CENTRAL AFRICAN TREASURY
“The Russian experience is very beneficial for the Central African treasury,” she said.
Moscow has said there are 1 135 “unarmed instructors” in CAR.
Paris has frozen aid and military cooperation with the CAR since June, saying it was “hostage to the Wagner group”.
The CAR is the second poorest country in the world, according to UN figures, and since 2013 has been ravaged by civil war, although the level of fighting has fallen off since 2018.
© Agence France-Presse
