Thanks to Russian security support, "peace returns to the Central African Republic," president of Central African Republic's National Assembly Simplice Mathieu Sarandji told Sputnik Africa.
"People were slaughtered, people were killed, granaries were set on fire. It was difficult. Houses were destroyed, infrastructure was destroyed, and there was no one to fly to the rescue of the Central African people. But with the arrival of our Russian friends, we have seen how things are starting to normalize," he said.
In this context, while the Central African Republic is currently chairing the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC), CAR President Faustin-Archange Touadera "has already taken a position in favor of a sustained relationship with Russia," the parliamentarian said.
He also expressed his hope that the CEMAC would work and diversify its relations with Moscow in the fields of security, culture, and infrastructure.
On Saturday, CAR Prime Minister Felix Molua revealed to Sputnik that his country and Russia are discussing new contracts to develop defense industry cooperation between the two countries.
CAR faced a security crisis after a 2013 coup, followed by clashed between Muslim-majority Seleka and Christian Anti-Balaka fighters. Despite a peace agreement, signed in 2019 between the CAR President and leaders of 14 rebel groups, violence resumed after the 2020 presidential election. Russia sent military instructors to CAR in 2018 at the request of the government. Russian forces assisted CAR army in repelling an attack by Sudanese militants in February 2022.
'Dynamics of a Civilization'
Speaking about BRICS, Sarandji noted that the bloc is in the "dynamics of a civilization."
"Will Western civilization, which has been imposing itself on the world arena for a very long time, remain ad vitam eternam [forever]?" he wondered before answering, "I don't think so."
He also pointed out that he is eager to see what the BRICS and other countries "can do in a few years" and stressed that the bloc emphasizes the values of each civilization.
"But if you start imposing your culture on others, it won't be pretty," he said, denouncing the world order promoted by the West.