The United Nations Security Council is set to open the door to an easing of the arms embargo on the Central African Republic five years after the country stood on the verge of genocide. “We think it’s a good idea to have a review of the embargo,” Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told AFP news agency. Russia has stepped up its presence in the Central African Republic, offering training to troops and brokering peace talks with armed groups, sparking tensions with France, the former colonial power. The UN arms embargo was imposed in 2013 when the country descended into bloodletting after President Francois Bozize, a Christian, was overthrown by mainly Muslim Seleka rebels. The armed groups are rearming to counter the deployment of the newly-trained and equipped government troops to their areas of influence, the panel’s report said.

Source: Nigerian Tribune January 31, 2019 14:15 UTC