Central African Republic–Russia relations explained

Central African Republic–Russia relations are the bilateral relations between the Central African Republic and Russia. Both countries established diplomatic relations on 7 December 1960^[1] Relations have been historically strained especially under the Soviet Union, however the countries have become close allies since the rise of President Faustin-Archange Touadéra.^[2]

Diplomatic missions

The Central African Republic has an embassy in the Troparyovo-Nikulino District of Moscow. Russia has an embassy in Bangui.

Relations with the Soviet Union

The Central African Republic took part in the 1980 Summer Olympics boycott which took place in Moscow.^[3]

Relations with the Russian Federation

Pre-Touadéra presidency

In 2014, The Central African Republic joined most of the world in voting in favor of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 68/262, which was in condemnation of the Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation.

Touadéra presidency

In March 2018, Russia agreed to provide free military aid to the Central African Republic, sending small arms, ammunition, and 175 instructors to train the Central African Armed Forces.^[4] The advisers are believed to be members of the Wagner Group.^[5] It was Russia's largest military deployment to Africa since the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union.^[6], the CAR is considering hosting a Russian Armed Forces base.^[7] A former Russian intelligence official has been installed by the Central African president as his top security adviser.^[8]

Since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

On November 14, 2022, the Central African Republic sided with the Russian Federation on a UN General Assembly vote calling for Russia to pay war reparations to Ukraine.^[9]

In 2023, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra expressed support for Russian involvement in Ukraine.^[10]

In 2023, the Central African Republic was one of 14 countries to vote against A/C.3/78/L.42 titled "Situation of human rights in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, including the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol."^[11]

The Central African Republic is one of six African countries to be part of the free Russian grain deal. The other five countries are Somalia, and four other allies along with the Central African Republic. These four allies are Burkina Faso, Eritrea, Mali, and Zimbabwe.^[12]

See also

• Foreign relations of the Central African Republic
• Foreign relations of Russia

Notes and References

1. Web site: 62 years ago, diplomatic relations were established between our country and the Central African Republic . 1 July 2023 . MFA Russia.
2. Web site: 2021-12-03 . Russia’s Influence in the Central African Republic . 2023-11-24 . www.crisisgroup.org . en.
3. Eaton. Joseph. November 2016. Reconsidering the 1980 Moscow Olympic Boycott: American Sports Diplomacy in East Asian Perspective. Diplomatic History. 40. 5. 845–864. 10.1093/dh/dhw026. 26376807. 20 June 2022.
4. News: . "At the request of the Central African Republic’s president, Russia decided to provide the country with free military aid," he said. According to him, with the consent of the United Nations Security Council committee, the Russian Defense Ministry handed a batch of small arms and ammunition to the armed forces of the Central African Republic and sent five military and 170 civilian instructors to train the country’s military servicemen. . Russia provides free military aid to Central African Republic — Foreign Ministry. March 22, 2018 .
5. Russia's Favorite Mercenaries . . Then, in March 2018, the Kremlin issued a statement that 170 "civilian advisors" (widely understood to mean Wagner forces) had arrived in the CAR to train government forces. At the end of July, another 500 alleged Wagner fighters appeared on the Sudan-CAR border. . August 27, 2018 . Neil . Hauer.
6. Book: Kisangani . Emizet F. . African Interventions: State Militaries, Foreign Powers, and Rebel Forces . Pickering . Jeffrey . 2021-11-30 . Cambridge University Press . 978-1-108-55080-2 . 1 . 10.1017/9781108550802.002. 240255564 .
7. Web site: Russian base in central Africa on the table while US refocuses its strategy . John Vandiver . January 10, 2019 . Stripes.com . January 14, 2019.
8. News: Gems, Warlords and Mercenaries: Russia's Playbook in Central African Republic. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220101/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/30/world/russia-diamonds-africa-prigozhin.html . 2022-01-01 . limited. Searcey. Dionne. 2019-09-30. The New York Times. 2019-09-30. en-US. 0362-4331.
9. Web site: UN calls for Russia to pay reparations. How did countries vote? .
10. https://www.chathamhouse.org/2023/08/russia-africa-summit-fails-deliver-concrete-results
11. https://www.un.org/en/ga/third/78/docs/voting_sheets/L.42.pdf
12. News: Sauer . Pjotr . 2023-07-27 . Putin promises free grain to six African nations after collapse of Black Sea deal . en-GB . The Guardian . 2023-11-24 . 0261-3077.