Russian Ambassador Reveals Plans to Open Military Base in Central African Republic

Russian Ambassador to the Central African Republic (CAR), Alexander Bikantov, confirmed that plans to establish a Russian military base in CAR remain on the agenda and negotiations between Moscow and Bangui are underway.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadera meet on the sidelines of the Russia-Africa Summit in St Petersburg, July 28, 2023. (Source: Tass)

Ambassador Bikantov emphasized: "The topic of establishing a Russian military base on the territory of the Central African Republic continues to be on the agenda of negotiations in the field of military cooperation between the two countries. However, so far, the two sides have not finalized the time, location of the base construction and the number of soldiers stationed at the base."

Previously, on April 19, 2024, CAR President Faustin Archange Touadera said a Russian military base could be established in the eastern region of the country.

The Central African Republic has been in a security crisis since a 2013 coup followed by violence between mainly Muslim Seleka fighters and mainly Christian anti-Balaka fighters.

In early 2018, Russia sent the first military specialists to CAR at the request of the country's government. As of February 2022, a total of 1,135 Russian specialists are operating in the Central African Republic, providing training for the CAR army.

Earlier, Fidele Gouandjika, adviser to the CAR President, said that Bangui had asked Russia to establish a military base in the country and that the infrastructure in Berengo was capable of accommodating up to 10,000 troops.

In a news release on January 24, Anadolu news agency (AA) quoted Ambassador Bikantov's statement to Tass that if the construction of a Russian military base on CAR territory is carried out, CAR will become safer and once the security situation improves, CAR authorities will have the conditions to recover the economy.

Mr. Bikantov said that there are currently 1,890 Russian instructors in CAR, including military specialists in various fields as well as instructors for national police and gendarmerie units.

Mr. Bikantov noted that the CAR government has repeatedly expressed its desire to increase the number of Russian military instructors, but the two sides have not yet reached any relevant agreement.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/nga-dai-su-tiet-lo-ve-ke-hoach-mo-can-cu-quan-su-tai-cong-hoa-trung-phi-276964.html