Russia gradually establishes its presence in the Central African Republic after the conclusion of a military agreement between Moscow and Bangui in December 2017, writes the special correspondent of Le Monde in Bangui Remy Urdan.
In October 2017, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Central African President Fosten-Arshanzh Tuader met in Sochi. After that, Moscow asked the UN Security Council to withdraw from the embargo on the supply of weapons to the Central African Republic in order to provide the government with military equipment and launch the exercise program of the Central African Forces (FACA). The permit was received in December, and the Russian Ilyushin II-76 attack aircraft made its first landing on January 26 at Bangui Airport, the article says..
The agreement between Moscow and Bangui provides for the supply of jet weapons, machine guns, automatic rifles and pistols, as well as training in the handling of these two FACA battalions, that is, 1,300 people. The graduation ceremony for the first contingent of 200 people was held on March 31 in the presence of President Tuader. This is the official story. However, many surprises sprang to her, the author notes.
First of all, we are talking about the transfer to the disposal of the messengers from Moscow Berengo Palace. This abandoned building, 60 km west of Bangui, was the residence of President Jean-Bedel Bocassa, who was in power from 1966 to 1979 and buried in this estate. Such a discovery caused a vivid debate between the government and the Bokassa family, which was not warned about the transformation of the palace and 40 hectares of land into a military camp, the journalist said..
The next surprise was that the cantonment of the Russians in Berengo lasted no longer than a flock of antelopes in the forest forest. Although trying to keep modestly, white and French-speaking men with military bearing, but without the uniforms laid down by the regulations, freely walked around Bangui, describes Urdan.
Their presence and their attire led the people of Bangui to the idea that the Moscow envoys were not supposedly officers of the Russian army. On this point, in its interventions abroad - as in Syria - Russia was completely "Americanized": for five officers allegedly belonging to military intelligence, almost all the other people present in the CAR are mercenaries of two private military companies - Sewa Security Services and Lobaye Ltd, commented the journalist.
Their first official appearance occurred at the football stadium in Bangui, at the celebration of the second anniversary of the presidency of the Tuader. These people quickly overthrew the Rwandan servicemen from the UN mission in the CAR MINUSCA, who had previously guarded the head of state. While Rwandans now stand in parking lots and in front of closed doors, people from Moscow provide personal protection to the president, with unlimited access to his schedule and his inner circle, writes Urdan.
"Russian activity in the region, which continues from Sudan to Angola, causes concern for Americans," an unnamed European diplomat confesses. "As for the Central African Republic, they are waiting for France to react". In Bangui, too, wonder whether Moscow will allow the former colonial power to settle in the center of Central African power. "This is the choice of Central Africans," sighed one French diplomat. - Besides, we do not have such methods as the Russians. They shamelessly climb wherever they are opened doors ".
If the goal was to contain Russian influence, then the only visible result is on the verge of a paradox: on the dazzlingly new foxes presented by the Americans to the Central African soldiers, now the types with the habits of the special forces are riding around, half-satisfied, half-satisfied views of the Bangui residents. Most of the latter began to doubt, and perhaps after the military withdrawal of France, the UN MINUSKA mission itself would be able to protect them from the rebels, concludes the special correspondent.