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CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC FRANCE

Touadéra wants to reengage with Paris

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AFRICA

Security, Moscow's way into Africa

Russia's influence on the continent is spreading in step with rising instability in many African countries and tensions between France and many of its former colonies. This trend is bolstered by the presence of the Russian private military contractor Wagner Group close to Vladimir Putin. Its mercenaries have intervened in Libya and Mozambique and are now offering their services in West and Central Africa. Driven by the Kremlin, Russia's security breakthrough in Africa is also backed by the defence ministry, serving Moscow's geopolitical interests, and paving the way for Russia to move into other fields on the continent.

Central African President Faustin Archange Touadéra at the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on 21 September 2021. © Mary Altaffer/EPA/Pool/MaxPPP

Worried about the spectacular demise of Central African Republic's diplomatic relations with France, the head of state is seeking fresh communication channels. After a first attempt at mediation in Kinshasa, he is considering appointing a new ambassador to France. [...] (472 words)

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Diplomacy

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António Guterres
DGSE
European Union
Faustin Archange Touadéra
Félix Tshisekedi
Flavien Mbata
François Beya Kasongo
Michel Gbezera-Bria
Sylvie Baipo-Temon
United Nations
Wagner

EU plans to place troops trained by its military mission in CAR under Rwanda's supervision

The EU's training mission in CAR has been suspended since the beginning of December, however ways to revive it are currently being examined. Cooperation with the Rwandan army is one route being considered in Paris, but implementing this would be challenging.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC Politics Diplomacy 21/12/2021

Sandra Boodhun, Touadéra's new ubiquitous adviser Free

Central African President Faustin Archange Touadéra's new Mauritian adviser Sandra Boodhun has been at his side on all his latest trips abroad, most recently in Dubai.

CAR president Faustin Archange Touadéra (left) with his adviser Sandra Boodhun (centre)

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC CHAD Finance Politics 22/11/2021

IMF splashes out for some CEMAC states but leaves N'Djamena and Bangui hanging

Since the beginning of the year, the International Monetary Fund has signed support programmes with four of the six countries in the oil-dependent and Covid-weakened Central African monetary zone. But its talks with Chad and the Central African Republic have stalled.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC Diplomacy 12/11/2021

Security Council's tense talks on renewing MINUSCA mandate

The UN Security Council is renewing MINSUCA's mandate on Friday. The discussions began in October and have been strained, as Moscow has sought to ease the arms embargo on the Central African Republic. Relations between Bangui and the UN mission remain tense.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC Politics 10/11/2021

Touadera attempts to save republican dialogue

The democratic opposition withdrew from the 'republican dialogue' peace talks last week, after a move by the president of the National Assembly to waive the parliamentary immunity of three of its leaders. This falls at the precise moment that President Touadera is seeking funding for the talks.

Central African president Faustin-Archange Touadera.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC Diplomacy 28/10/2021

Wagner's parallel diplomacy embarrasses Moscow

Active in the military and media fields, the private security firm Wagner has been courting publicity in a way that is jarring with the reserve of Russian diplomats in recent weeks and the messages coming out of official channels in Moscow.

Alexander Ivanov (centre, holding a document), representative of Wagner instructors in the Central African Republic, was received at the Central African National Assembly on 15 October 2021.

Spotlight

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC RUSSIA Diplomacy 19/10/2021

Moscow-Bangui relations hit rough patch

Relations between Russia and the Central African Republic remain strong, yet they've grown tense in recent weeks. Moscow, deprived of its official representatives in the country, is now working in the dark.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC Diplomacy 24/09/2021

Paris makes life uncomfortable for CAR officials

Since September, France has refused to grant visas to a dozen Central African Republic officials in a sign of the tense relations between the two countries. The situation is unlikely to improve with several investigations on the horizon.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC Politics 25/08/2021

Touadéra finds jobs in presidency for former Ngrebada ministers

Central African Republic president Faustin-Archange Touadéra has used the torpor of the month of August to quietly carry out a game of musical chairs.

President of Central African Republic Faustin-Archange Touadera.

The then Prime Minister of the Central African Republic, Firmin Ngrebada (centre), salutes his troops as a Russian-made support helicopter flies overhead on the road between Boali and Bangui on 10 January 2021. © Florent Vergnes/AFP

In Focus

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC Business 26/07/2021

Bolloré, TotalEnergies and Air France held hostage in Franco-Russian power struggle

As France downgrades its relations with the Central African Republic (CAR), which it sees as too much under Russian influence, the authorities there are exerting pressure on French companies still active in the country.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC RUSSIA Mining 14/07/2021

Bangui sparks fears of Russian hand in planned diamond trade nationalisation

The Central African Republic is preparing to overhaul its mining legislation. At the heart of the long-awaited reform is the creation of a controversial entity in control of all buying and selling of precious stones.

Ndassima gold mine near Djoubissi, north of Bambari, Central African Republic.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC Diplomacy 29/06/2021

As Russian influence grows, EU mulls aid suspension, following Paris's lead

As Russian paramilitary group Wagner continues to extend its influence in the Central African Republic, the European Union is considering suspending payment of an upcoming €30m tranche of budget aid to the government.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC Politics 18/06/2021

New PM Dondra squeezed between donors and Russia

Appointed prime minister on 11 June, Henri-Marie Dondra has the difficult task of reassuring the cash-strapped country's financial backers while dealing with heightened tensions over the December elections and growing Russian influence. The appointment of his cabinet will be a baptism of fire.

DRC FRANCE Diplomacy 25/05/2021

DGSE and DRC intelligence chiefs bond on sidelines of Macron-Tshisekedi meet

While in Paris to attend the French summit on African financing on 18 May, the DRC's top intelligence staff met with their French counterparts to further strengthen security cooperation between the two.

French President Emmanuel Macron greets Democratic Republic of the Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC FRANCE Diplomacy 05/05/2021

Russia's presence further widens wedge in Paris-Bangui axis

Cuts to French aid, a freeze on military cooperation... relations between Paris and Bangui continue to cool. France suspects several of Touadéra's close advisors of waging anti-French campaigns while Russia is not far from the picture.

Central African President Faustin-Archange Touadéra and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at the 2019 Russia-Africa summit in Sochi.

Set up email notifications for these topics

António Guterres
DGSE
European Union
Faustin Archange Touadéra
Félix Tshisekedi
Flavien Mbata
François Beya Kasongo
Michel Gbezera-Bria
Sylvie Baipo-Temon
United Nations
Wagner

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Touadéra wants to reengage with Paris

Security, Moscow's way into Africa

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EU plans to place troops trained by its military mission in CAR under Rwanda's supervision

Sandra Boodhun, Touadéra's new ubiquitous adviser Free

IMF splashes out for some CEMAC states but leaves N'Djamena and Bangui hanging

Security Council's tense talks on renewing MINUSCA mandate

Touadera attempts to save republican dialogue

Wagner's parallel diplomacy embarrasses Moscow

Moscow-Bangui relations hit rough patch

Paris makes life uncomfortable for CAR officials

Touadéra finds jobs in presidency for former Ngrebada ministers

Bolloré, TotalEnergies and Air France held hostage in Franco-Russian power struggle

Bangui sparks fears of Russian hand in planned diamond trade nationalisation

As Russian influence grows, EU mulls aid suspension, following Paris's lead

New PM Dondra squeezed between donors and Russia

DGSE and DRC intelligence chiefs bond on sidelines of Macron-Tshisekedi meet

Russia's presence further widens wedge in Paris-Bangui axis

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Touadéra wants to reengage with Paris

Security, Moscow's way into Africa

This article may be accessed by subscribers and e-wallet holders (USD 12.50)

2 options offered to continue reading

Create your free account

create a free account

Set up email notifications for these topics

EU plans to place troops trained by its military mission in CAR under Rwanda's supervision

Sandra Boodhun, Touadéra's new ubiquitous adviser Free

IMF splashes out for some CEMAC states but leaves N'Djamena and Bangui hanging

Security Council's tense talks on renewing MINUSCA mandate

Touadera attempts to save republican dialogue

Wagner's parallel diplomacy embarrasses Moscow

Moscow-Bangui relations hit rough patch

Paris makes life uncomfortable for CAR officials

Touadéra finds jobs in presidency for former Ngrebada ministers

Bolloré, TotalEnergies and Air France held hostage in Franco-Russian power struggle

Bangui sparks fears of Russian hand in planned diamond trade nationalisation

As Russian influence grows, EU mulls aid suspension, following Paris's lead

New PM Dondra squeezed between donors and Russia

DGSE and DRC intelligence chiefs bond on sidelines of Macron-Tshisekedi meet

Russia's presence further widens wedge in Paris-Bangui axis

Set up email notifications for these topics

First visit

Contacts

Tools

Follow us

A website produced by

Indigo Publications also publishes: