Why did Russian special forces settle in the Black Continent
Another anti-Russian hysteria has begun in the West. According to several Western media reports, Russian troops entered the land of the Central African Republic. Have our military really appeared on the land of a distant African state?
Back in October 2017, the President of the Central African Republic, Fosten-Arkange Tuadera, met in Sochi with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. He asked Russia, firstly, to provide weapons for the three infantry battalions of the Republican army, and secondly, to achieve at the UN a partial lifting of the arms embargo on the Central African Republic. As you know, a sluggish civil war has been going on for a long time in the Central African Republic, which is why the United Nations made a decision at the time to ban arms supplies to this country.
The Central African Republic is one of the poorest countries in the world, life in the country is difficult and poor even by African standards. Unlike Angola, Mozambique or Ethiopia, the CAR has never been on the list of close allies or partners of the USSR and Russia. Leaders of the country were inclined to maintain relations with the former metropolis of France. But times are changing. Russia managed to partially lift the arms embargo on the Central African Republic, after which on January 26, 2018, the first batch of weapons arrived in the country. Already on March 31, the President of the country Touadera adopted the parade of the first company, armed with Russian weapons and dressed in Russian-made camouflage. Everyone was surprised that the company was commanded by people of European appearance. It was unlikely that they were the veterans of the Foreign Legion familiar to Africa. Journalists drew attention to the “white” protection of President Tuadera, although previously the security of the head of state was provided by Rwandans from the remaining peacekeeping forces in the Central African Republic.
Soon, the presidential administration of the Central African Republic itself recognized that the Russian special forces were stationed in the country to protect the head of state. The French press claims that there are only five Russian army personnel officers in the Central African Republic, and the remaining “white military” are employees of private military companies, including Sewa Supreme, registered in India. However, the Western press does not cite any concrete evidence other than the usual arguments about the PMCs of Wagner and Putin. But, on the other hand, there is nothing wrong with the appearance of Russian instructors in the Central African Republic and nothing surprising. Western countries hold numerous contingents of their troops in Africa, military instructors from France, Great Britain, and the USA work in many African states. If the West can, then why not Russia?
The restoration of Russian positions in Africa is a good sign. The continent is rich in natural resources, many of its points are of strategic political and military importance. Not only the USA and European countries are expanding their presence in Africa, but also China, and even India and Japan. Therefore, for Russia, the African direction is also becoming increasingly priority. For example, Mozambique recently allowed Russian warships to freely enter its ports, more and more people are talking about the possibility of reconstructing Russian naval bases on the Red Sea coast.
Back in October 2017, the President of the Central African Republic, Fosten-Arkange Tuadera, met in Sochi with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. He asked Russia, firstly, to provide weapons for the three infantry battalions of the Republican army, and secondly, to achieve at the UN a partial lifting of the arms embargo on the Central African Republic. As you know, a sluggish civil war has been going on for a long time in the Central African Republic, which is why the United Nations made a decision at the time to ban arms supplies to this country.
The Central African Republic is one of the poorest countries in the world, life in the country is difficult and poor even by African standards. Unlike Angola, Mozambique or Ethiopia, the CAR has never been on the list of close allies or partners of the USSR and Russia. Leaders of the country were inclined to maintain relations with the former metropolis of France. But times are changing. Russia managed to partially lift the arms embargo on the Central African Republic, after which on January 26, 2018, the first batch of weapons arrived in the country. Already on March 31, the President of the country Touadera adopted the parade of the first company, armed with Russian weapons and dressed in Russian-made camouflage. Everyone was surprised that the company was commanded by people of European appearance. It was unlikely that they were the veterans of the Foreign Legion familiar to Africa. Journalists drew attention to the “white” protection of President Tuadera, although previously the security of the head of state was provided by Rwandans from the remaining peacekeeping forces in the Central African Republic.
Soon, the presidential administration of the Central African Republic itself recognized that the Russian special forces were stationed in the country to protect the head of state. The French press claims that there are only five Russian army personnel officers in the Central African Republic, and the remaining “white military” are employees of private military companies, including Sewa Supreme, registered in India. However, the Western press does not cite any concrete evidence other than the usual arguments about the PMCs of Wagner and Putin. But, on the other hand, there is nothing wrong with the appearance of Russian instructors in the Central African Republic and nothing surprising. Western countries hold numerous contingents of their troops in Africa, military instructors from France, Great Britain, and the USA work in many African states. If the West can, then why not Russia?
The restoration of Russian positions in Africa is a good sign. The continent is rich in natural resources, many of its points are of strategic political and military importance. Not only the USA and European countries are expanding their presence in Africa, but also China, and even India and Japan. Therefore, for Russia, the African direction is also becoming increasingly priority. For example, Mozambique recently allowed Russian warships to freely enter its ports, more and more people are talking about the possibility of reconstructing Russian naval bases on the Red Sea coast.
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