- In an unprecedented development, France has suspended financial support and military cooperation with the Central African Republic.
- The relations have been souring on the allegations that CAR is backing out of political commitments, and of b eing a party in a Russian-backed campaign against France’s presence in Africa.
In an unprecedented development, France has suspended financial support and military cooperation with the Central African Republic. The relations have been souring on the allegations that CAR is backing out of political commitments, and of being a party in a Russian-backed campaign against France’s presence in Africa. French foreign ministry announced that ten million euros in budgetary aid to the CAR government would be suspended until further notice that was used to pay public employees. However, French humanitarian aid and projects benefiting the population of CAR of around six million euros, will continue.
A French foreign ministry source reportedly stated that France has been deliberately targetted of a massive disinformation campaign in CAR. The French reports point out at Russia to be at the origin of the campaign, and the Central Africans being complicit. France also accuses CAR of not honouring its political commitments. The President Faustin-Archange Touadéra who was elected in December, last year, had pledged to France and other European partners to open dialogue with the opposition, who had rejected the election results. On the contrary, many opposition members are being detained including Opposition lawmaker Anicet-Georges Dologuele, who reportedly was denied permission to leave CAR for France in March.
Five French military advisers were called back to France, and the training of the CAR military by French troops stationed in Gabon was suspended recently. About a hundred French soldiers as part of the European Union EUTM-RCA force that is training the CAR military, as well as troops participating in United Nations peacekeeping Force will continue to remain in the country.Since 2018, Russia has hiked its presence in CAR, when it sent weapons and instructors to train the army. NGOs and activists accuse the presence of mercenaries of the Wagner Group, a secretive Russian security company, in CAR. The United Nations has also raised concerns about the role the Wagner Group and other Russian security companies’ role in CAR.
