( 3 minutes read)
· Central African Republic’s new Prime Minister Henri-Marie Dondra said yesterday (Tuesday) that he wanted to revive the economy with France as a strategic partner
· France had recently frozen its budgetary aid to the central African country amid an anti-French campaign
· The new Prime Minister also expressed his willingness to re-launch exchanges with the armed groups, as part of the peace agreement signed in February 2019 between the government and 14 of the warring groups.
Central African Republic’s new Prime Minister Henri-Marie Dondra said yesterday (Tuesday) that he wanted to revive the economy with France as a strategic partner. France had recently frozen its budgetary aid to the central African country amid an anti-French campaign.
Henri-Marie Dondra, was appointed as the prime minister on June 11. He is tasked with the revival of the sagging economy. For that, he wanted to have close association with several economies including EU countries, particularly France.
France suspended its military cooperation with Bangui, alleging that CAR is engaged in a massive disinformation campaign against Paris. It blamed Russia for creating rift between the two countries. Of late, Russia has been active in CAR mostly by delivering arms and positioning a large contingent of military instructors. In December 2020, Russia sent hundreds of paramilitaries to the aid of President Faustin Archange Touadéra’s weak army. That time CAR was threatened by a rebellion. CAR could suppress the rebel offensive with the help of hundreds of Rwandan soldiers with the Russian help.
The appointment of Henri-Marie Dondra, a pro-French person replacing Firmin Ngrebada, is a sign of appeasement towards Paris. Firmin Ngrebada was largely believed to be pick up of Russians. The new Prime Minister also expressed his willingness to re-launch exchanges with the armed groups, as part of the peace agreement signed in February 2019 between the government and 14 of the warring groups. In December, the most powerful of these groups had united in the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC) to overthrow the regime of Faustin Archange Touadéra.
