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CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

Wagner's parallel diplomacy embarrasses Moscow

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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.

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. © Communauté des Officiers pour la Sécurité internationale (Cosi)/Twitter

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. [...] (712 words)

Issue dated 28/10/2021 Reading time 3 minutes

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Diplomacy

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Alexander Ivanov
Alliance française
Communauté des officiers pour la sécurité internationale
Dimitri Sytyi
Faustin Archange Touadéra
Fondation pour la défense des valeurs nationales
Forces Armées centrafricaines
Jean-Claude Rameaux Bireau
Michel Nassin
Oleg Polguev
Sergey Lavrov
Simplice Mathieu Sarandji
Twitter
United Nations
Valery Zakharov
Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Titorenko
Wagner
Yevgeny Prigozhin

Moscow appoints new envoy as Wagner reorganises its mercenaries

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov is about to appoint a new ambassador to Bangui after six months of dithering. The Russian paramilitary group Wagner is meanwhile reorganising itself in the Central African Republic under the leadership of Yevgeny Prigozhin and Dimitri Utkin, who have both been in Bangui in recent months.

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov with President Vladimir Putin.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC Politics 02/12/2021

Touadéra and Moscow protect warlord Hassan Bouba from international justice

By targeting one of the emblematic figures of the Central African Republic conflict - livestock minister and former rebel leader Hassan Bouba - the Bangui special criminal court has thrown a spanner into an already uneasy mix of peace deals, jittery financial backers and Russian mercenaries.

Central African livestock minister Hassan Bouba in February 2021.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC Politics 01/12/2021

CAR government wages cold war against Minusca

Relations between the UN and the Central African government are abysmal. Shots fired by presidential guards at Egyptian peacekeepers on 1 November served to underline deep-seated tensions between the head of the UN mission, Mankeur Ndiaye, and President Faustin Archange Touadéra.

Relations became very tense between head of the Minusca Mankeur Ndiaye and CAR president Faustin Archange Touadera.

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Russia. © Vyacheslav Prokofyev/TASS

In Focus

AFRICA RUSSIA Diplomacy 29/11/2021

Patriarch Kirill, the pugnacious emissary of Russian diplomacy in Africa

The Putin-friendly patriarch of Moscow severed ties with the Orthodox Church of Ukraine when Russia invaded Ukraine's Donbass region and the impact of this break-up is now rippling across Africa, where the head of the Russian Orthodox Church is trying, again in step with Moscow, to outstrip the Patriarch of Alexandria.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC Diplomacy 17/11/2021

Bangui's high-stakes gamble with rebel groups

At Luanda's instigation, several heads of the armed groups that last year joined a rebel coalition recently signed an initial deal with the government. But Bangui suspects two holdouts of rapidly rearming via neighbouring states.

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.

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.

MALI Defence Diplomacy 06/10/2021

From Washington to Algiers, Paris manoeuvres behind the scenes to keep Wagner out of Mali

Discreetly but insistently, France is working with its Western and African partners to prevent the junta going into partnership with Russian paramilitary group Wagner. Meanwhile, ECOWAS, egged on by Macron, is considering slapping sanctions on Mali's new leaders.

French foreign minister Yves Le Drian at the UN General Assembly on 23 September.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC FRANCE Diplomacy 04/10/2021

Touadéra wants to reengage with Paris

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.

Central African President Faustin Archange Touadéra at the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on 21 September 2021.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC RUSSIA Defence Diplomacy 02/09/2021

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Alexander Ivanov
Alliance française
Communauté des officiers pour la sécurité internationale
Dimitri Sytyi
Faustin Archange Touadéra
Fondation pour la défense des valeurs nationales
Forces Armées centrafricaines
Jean-Claude Rameaux Bireau
Michel Nassin
Oleg Polguev
Sergey Lavrov
Simplice Mathieu Sarandji
Twitter
United Nations
Valery Zakharov
Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Titorenko
Wagner
Yevgeny Prigozhin

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Algerian secret services in survival mode in North Mali

As fight against M23 continues, Kigali and Kinshasa wage war of intelligence

Wagner's parallel diplomacy embarrasses Moscow

Security, Moscow's way into Africa

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Set up email notifications for these topics

Moscow appoints new envoy as Wagner reorganises its mercenaries

Touadéra and Moscow protect warlord Hassan Bouba from international justice

CAR government wages cold war against Minusca

Patriarch Kirill, the pugnacious emissary of Russian diplomacy in Africa

Bangui's high-stakes gamble with rebel groups

Touadera attempts to save republican dialogue

Moscow-Bangui relations hit rough patch

From Washington to Algiers, Paris manoeuvres behind the scenes to keep Wagner out of Mali

Touadéra wants to reengage with Paris

PM Dondra keeps Wagner at arm's length

Bangui sparks fears of Russian hand in planned diamond trade nationalisation

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

Moscow hones Africa strategy in Bangui

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Wagner's parallel diplomacy embarrasses Moscow

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

Moscow appoints new envoy as Wagner reorganises its mercenaries

Touadéra and Moscow protect warlord Hassan Bouba from international justice

CAR government wages cold war against Minusca

Patriarch Kirill, the pugnacious emissary of Russian diplomacy in Africa

Bangui's high-stakes gamble with rebel groups

Touadera attempts to save republican dialogue

Moscow-Bangui relations hit rough patch

From Washington to Algiers, Paris manoeuvres behind the scenes to keep Wagner out of Mali

Touadéra wants to reengage with Paris

PM Dondra keeps Wagner at arm's length

Bangui sparks fears of Russian hand in planned diamond trade nationalisation

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

Moscow hones Africa strategy in Bangui

Set up email notifications for these topics

First visit

Contacts

Tools

Follow us

A website produced by

Indigo Publications also publishes: