The Central African Republic (CAR) and Russia have been holding talks for Moscow to set up a military base in the frail African country weakened by civil war during many years. The minister of Defense of the CAR, Rameaux-Claude Bireau told Russian news agency Sputnik that “the discussions are continuing.” The minister also indicated that authorities are poised to have a Russian military base due to security challenges that have been haunting the country. Earlier, Leon Dodonou-Pounagaza, the country’s envoy to Moscow, indicated that CAR would like to have a Russian military base on its soil, and is eager to cooperate with Russia, especially against the backdrop of security threats. Russia since 2018 has become a strategic ally to CAR at the expense of ex-colonial power France. There were 1,890 of them as of February 2023, according to Alexander Bikantov, Russian ambassador to Bangui, and the CAR aims to raise that number.

Source: The North Africa Journal May 30, 2023 13:29 UTC