https://en.sputniknews.africa/20230529/this-african-country-wants-russias-military-base-on-its-soil-1059562135.html
This African Country Wants Russia's Military Base on its Soil
This African Country Wants Russia's Military Base on its Soil
Sputnik Africa
The Central African Republic (CAR) would like a Russian military base on its soil, said Leon Dodonou-Pounagaza, ambassador of the African country to Russia.
2023-05-29T15:43+0200
2023-05-29T15:43+0200
2023-05-29T15:43+0200
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The Central African Republic (CAR) would like a Russian military base on its soil, said Leon Dodonou-Pounagaza, the CAR's ambassador to Moscow. Although the rapprochement with Russia "arouses the discontent of some [political actors]", the country is interested, according to him, in cooperation with Moscow, especially against the background of security threats.The military-technical cooperation between the Central African Republic and Russia "must continue", the ambassador stressed.Security threats in the country are mounting due to the influx of refugees from Sudan, ravaged by a deadly conflict, according to the diplomat.France's 'discontent'The rapprochement with Russia "has aroused the discontent of some countries," the diplomat noted. "In recent weeks, when Russia delivered six military aircraft to us, it was the French who began to worry, scream and shout. But this is not our business, we are interested in cooperation with Russia," he said.In December 2022, against the background of powerful anti-French sentiment, the last French soldiers left Central African soil, after 9 years of presence.Russia's helpIn 2020, faced with a rebel offensive against the Central African capital that almost undermined its long-awaited elections, Moscow sent 300 Russian instructors and four Mi-8 helicopters with crews to the CAR. Thanks to this, the Central African army routed a large part of the illicit armed formations, Alexandr Bikantov, Russia's ambassador to the CAR, told Sputnik in February.Africa's peace missionLeon Dodonou-Pounagaza welcomed the announcement of the African peace mission to solve the Ukrainian crisis. Made up of heads of six states, it is set to visit Russia and Ukraine in the near future.Earlier this month, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa spoke with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, as well as Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, offering them a peace initiative on behalf of six African countries, namely, Zambia, Senegal, Congo, Uganda, Egypt and South Africa. According to Ramaphosa, Putin and Zelensky agreed to accept the mission of the African heads of state in Moscow and Kiev.The Kremlin's top diplomat, Sergey Lavrov, later confirmed that the African mission was planning to visit Russia in mid-June or early July.
https://en.sputniknews.africa/20230419/central-african-republic-expects-russia-continue-military-support-car-official-says-1058698796.html
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This African Country Wants Russia's Military Base on its Soil
Russia sent its first military instructors to the Central African Republic in 2018. In February 2023, Russian Ambassador to Bangui, Alexandr Bikantov, had made it known that there were exactly 1,890 of them and the CAR wants to increase that number. A notification to the UN Security Council has been sent, according to Moscow's envoy.
The Central African Republic (CAR) would like a Russian military base on its soil, said Leon Dodonou-Pounagaza, the CAR's ambassador to Moscow. Although the rapprochement with Russia "arouses the discontent of some [political actors]", the country is interested, according to him, in cooperation with Moscow, especially against the background of security threats.
The military-technical cooperation between the Central African Republic and Russia "
must continue", the ambassador stressed.
"Now we need a Russian military base with 5,000 to 10,000 soldiers. At the same time, they could, if necessary, be used in other countries. We asked for it," he said in an interview with Russian media.
Security threats in the country are mounting due to the influx of refugees from Sudan,
ravaged by a deadly conflict, according to the diplomat.
The rapprochement with Russia "has aroused the discontent of some countries," the diplomat noted. "In recent weeks, when Russia delivered six military aircraft to us, it was the French who began to worry, scream and shout. But this is not our business, we are interested in cooperation with Russia," he said.
In December 2022, against the background of powerful anti-French sentiment, the last French soldiers left Central African soil, after 9 years of presence.
"Now Russia will be with the Central African Republic, and that's that," the diplomat insisted.
In 2020, faced with a rebel offensive against the Central African capital that almost
undermined its long-awaited elections, Moscow sent 300 Russian instructors and four Mi-8 helicopters with crews to the CAR. Thanks to this, the Central African army routed a large part of the illicit armed formations, Alexandr Bikantov, Russia's ambassador to the CAR, told
Sputnik in February.
Leon Dodonou-Pounagaza welcomed the announcement of the African peace mission to solve the Ukrainian crisis.
Made up of heads of six states, it is set to visit Russia and Ukraine in the near future.
"The peace initiative is a step in the right direction. Because we really hope for the end of the conflict," remarked the Central African ambassador, adding that "the Americans and their allies must stop injecting weapons into Ukraine".
Earlier this month, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa spoke with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, as well as Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, offering them a peace initiative on behalf of six African countries, namely, Zambia, Senegal, Congo, Uganda, Egypt and South Africa. According to Ramaphosa, Putin and Zelensky agreed to accept the mission of the African heads of state in Moscow and Kiev.
The Kremlin's top diplomat, Sergey Lavrov, later confirmed that the African mission was planning to visit Russia in mid-June or early July.
