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ALL ARTICLES CAR

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

Focus

Business 26/07/2021

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

Politics Defence 21/07/2021

RA International bags contract to upgrade Bangui airport for MINUSCA

RA International, which specialises in conflict zone logistics, is boosting its presence in the Central African Republic. [...]

Mining 14/07/2021

Bangui sparks fears of Russian hand in planned diamond trade nationalisation

Ndassima gold mine near Djoubissi, north of Bambari, Central African Republic. © Siegfried Modola/Reuters

Diplomacy 12/07/2021

Weapons embargo sparks tension within UN Security Council

The UN Security Council intends to extend the weapons embargo against the CAR at the end of this month. While France, the UK,and the US are in favour of extending, Russia is threatening to use its veto power. [...]

Diplomacy 09/07/2021

Moscow uses civil defence as lever of influence

The Russian foreign ministry cherishes its relations with the International Civil Defence Organisation, whose member states are due to gather in Abidjan in October. [...]

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CAR

Diplomacy 07/07/2021

Lebanese firms battle over passport contract

Al Madina, which makes ID cards and other documents for Central African Republic citizens, wants to snatch the biomimetic passport contract held since 20210 by compatriot Africard. [...]

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. [...]

Business 22/06/2021

Hyatt plays catch-up with Accor, Radisson and Marriott

The US chain is mainly active on Africa's east coast and until now has had no business in central Africa. Now it's putting up a luxury hotel in Cameroon. [...]

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. [...]

CAR Prime Minister Firmin Ngrebada at the Saint Petersburg Economic Forum, 3 June 2021. © Primature RCA officiel/Twitter

Business 10/06/2021

PM Ngrebada flies in style aboard Prigozhin's jet

Despite Western concerns over Russia's growing influence in Bangui, the Central African leader had no qualms about taking the private jet of the oligarch Yevgeni Prigozhin to the recent Saint Petersburg business forum. [...]

Central African President Faustin-Archange Touadéra. © Adrienne Surprenant/EFE/Newscom/MaxPPP

Mining 08/06/2021

Touadéra seeks compromise with Axmin over Ndassima goldmine

The Canadian mining firm and CAR have quietly begun talks to settle a dispute over the mine to avert costly arbitration. Moscow's shadow looms over the thorny case. [...]

Diplomacy Defence 07/06/2021

How many Russians does it take to back up an army?

Officially, there are around 800 Russian officers and troops in the Central African Republic. That doesn't include "civilians" under contract to Russia's defence ministry or operators of the command systems imported from Moscow. [...]

A MINUSCA patrol in the Central African Republic. © @UN_CAR/Twitter

Politics Defence 03/06/2021

Embattled MINUSCA launches media counter-offensive

To push back against the often pro-Russian lobbies that are calling for MINUSCA contingents to withdraw from the CAR, the UN mission's communications team is seeking to boost its profile in the local press and in neighbouring Cameroon. [...]

Diplomacy 26/05/2021

Moscow puts more boots on the ground

As Russia rotates its ambassador in the Central African Republic, it is enlarging its military presence there. [...]

Congolese head of state Denis Sassou Nguesso in Paris in May 2021. © Ludovic Marin/Pool/EPA/Newscom/MaxPPP

Diplomacy 24/05/2021

Sassou Nguesso and ECCAS seek to regain upper hand on Chad

ECCAS President Denis Sassou Nguesso is timidly trying to play a part in managing Chad's transition. But the international community would clearly prefer the African Union to oversee the next stage. [...]

Business 21/05/2021

Football bodies seek to unplug Satcons decoders ahead of Euro 2020

The English Premier League, Spain's La Liga, and subscription channels beIN Sports and Canal+ all have a bone to pick with Lebanese firm Satcon. Run by the al-Akhras family, the company sells decoders across west and central Africa so viewers can tune into European sports championships. [...]

Diplomacy 20/05/2021

CEMAC leaders brood over exclusion from Paris summit

Denis Sassou NGuesso, much to the irritation of his fellow Central African heads of state, was the only one among them who managed to get himself invited to the Paris summit on the financing of African economies. [...]

Breaking news 14/05/2021

Russian ambassador to Bangui to return to Moscow this summer

Breaking news published on 14/05/21, 1:50 p.m., updated on 16/05/21 - As tensions between Paris and Moscow over their battle for influence reach new highs, Russia's CAR ambassador Vladimir Titorenko, who has held this post since January 2019, will head home this summer. [...]

Business Defence 07/05/2021

Dyck Advisory Group bids for UN mine clearance contract

The private South African operator Dyck Advisory Group (DAG) is angling for a piece of a UN mine clearance contract now that its military operations have been suspended in the Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado. [...]

Central African President Faustin-Archange Touadéra and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at the 2019 Russia-Africa summit in Sochi. © Mikhail Metzel/Sputnik/Kremlin Pool/EPA/Newscom/MaxPPP

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. [...]

Politics 05/05/2021

After Abidjan, Mikati family's ACC prospects in Brazzaville and Douala

Arabian Construction Co (ACC), having lost its position as the leading construction contractor in the Emirates and Saudi Arabia, has been redeploying in Africa since last year and recently sent a delegation to Cameroon and later to Brazzaville. [...]

Mining 04/05/2021

Comigem state counter still desperately awaiting privatisation

In March 2020, a decision was made to privatise the Central African Republic public gem buying office Comigem declared bankrupt years ago. A buyer was found but since then everything has gone quiet. [...]

Diplomacy 30/04/2021

Touadéra in a state of paranoia after Idriss Déby's death

Under Idriss Déby, Chad became a major influence in the neighbouring Central African Republic (CAR), where it has close links with rebel groups. President Touadéra, who is concerned about the connections of new Chadian strongman "Kaka" in his country, is closely monitoring Déby's son and would-be heir. [...]

Emile Parfait Simb, founder of the cryptocurrency Simbcoin. © Emile Simb/Facebook

Business Fintech 13/04/2021

Troubled SimbCoin founder to open new business in Bangui

Criticised in his home country and by regulation authorities for his cryptocurrency activities, Cameroonian businessman Emile Parfait Simb is looking for a fresh start in business aviation in Central African Republic. [...]

Rwanda's President Paul Kagame. © Reuters

Diplomacy Business 07/04/2021

Kagame backs embattled Touadéra on all fronts

On top of diplomatic and military aid to the Central African Republic, Rwanda has quietly been placing its pawns in the country's mining sector and has its sights set on various infrastructure projects. This economic entryism is made possible by a handful of advisors close to the CAR president. [...]

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

How ICMPD, a champion of migrant 'assisted return', became an EU project manager

ALL ARTICLES CAR

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

RA International bags contract to upgrade Bangui airport for MINUSCA

Bangui sparks fears of Russian hand in planned diamond trade nationalisation

Weapons embargo sparks tension within UN Security Council

Moscow uses civil defence as lever of influence

Lebanese firms battle over passport contract

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

Hyatt plays catch-up with Accor, Radisson and Marriott

New PM Dondra squeezed between donors and Russia

PM Ngrebada flies in style aboard Prigozhin's jet

Touadéra seeks compromise with Axmin over Ndassima goldmine

How many Russians does it take to back up an army?

Embattled MINUSCA launches media counter-offensive

Moscow puts more boots on the ground

Sassou Nguesso and ECCAS seek to regain upper hand on Chad

Football bodies seek to unplug Satcons decoders ahead of Euro 2020

CEMAC leaders brood over exclusion from Paris summit

Russian ambassador to Bangui to return to Moscow this summer

Dyck Advisory Group bids for UN mine clearance contract

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

After Abidjan, Mikati family's ACC prospects in Brazzaville and Douala

Comigem state counter still desperately awaiting privatisation

Touadéra in a state of paranoia after Idriss Déby's death

Troubled SimbCoin founder to open new business in Bangui

Kagame backs embattled Touadéra on all fronts

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

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ALL ARTICLES CAR

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

RA International bags contract to upgrade Bangui airport for MINUSCA

Bangui sparks fears of Russian hand in planned diamond trade nationalisation

Weapons embargo sparks tension within UN Security Council

Moscow uses civil defence as lever of influence

Lebanese firms battle over passport contract

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

Hyatt plays catch-up with Accor, Radisson and Marriott

New PM Dondra squeezed between donors and Russia

PM Ngrebada flies in style aboard Prigozhin's jet

Touadéra seeks compromise with Axmin over Ndassima goldmine

How many Russians does it take to back up an army?

Embattled MINUSCA launches media counter-offensive

Moscow puts more boots on the ground

Sassou Nguesso and ECCAS seek to regain upper hand on Chad

Football bodies seek to unplug Satcons decoders ahead of Euro 2020

CEMAC leaders brood over exclusion from Paris summit

Russian ambassador to Bangui to return to Moscow this summer

Dyck Advisory Group bids for UN mine clearance contract

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

After Abidjan, Mikati family's ACC prospects in Brazzaville and Douala

Comigem state counter still desperately awaiting privatisation

Touadéra in a state of paranoia after Idriss Déby's death

Troubled SimbCoin founder to open new business in Bangui

Kagame backs embattled Touadéra on all fronts

First visit

Contacts

Tools

Free services

Follow us

A website produced by

Indigo Publications also publishes: