There are no Russian units in Central Africa and are not expected
A number of media outlets wanted to find in the Central African Republic a non-existent “army of Russian mercenaries” so great that it led to an irresponsible adventure that ended in the death of journalists.
Speculation on this subject forced the Russian Foreign Ministry to make a statement.
Director of the Africa Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry Andrei Kemarsky in an interview with RIA News stated that military advisers from Russia, who are located on the territory of the Central African Republic, are training the armed forces of the republic and they "can in no way be classified as mercenaries."
The diplomat explained:
Also, Andrei Kemarsky emphasized that Russia does not plan to establish its naval bases on the territory of African states.
Recall that the statement by the representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry was caused by rumors circulated by a number of media that the Russian billionaire Yevgeny Prigozhin sent a mercenary unit to the Central African Republic, which should support one of the parties to the conflict in exchange for certain preferences.
On July 30, 2018, one of the groups opposing the government of the Central African Republic killed three Russian journalists who tried to verify these rumors.
Speculation on this subject forced the Russian Foreign Ministry to make a statement.
Director of the Africa Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry Andrei Kemarsky in an interview with RIA News stated that military advisers from Russia, who are located on the territory of the Central African Republic, are training the armed forces of the republic and they "can in no way be classified as mercenaries."
The diplomat explained:
In the Central African Republic, their task consists precisely in resolving those tasks that have already been said - strengthening the armed forces, creating conditions for the effective protection of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country
Also, Andrei Kemarsky emphasized that Russia does not plan to establish its naval bases on the territory of African states.
Recall that the statement by the representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry was caused by rumors circulated by a number of media that the Russian billionaire Yevgeny Prigozhin sent a mercenary unit to the Central African Republic, which should support one of the parties to the conflict in exchange for certain preferences.
On July 30, 2018, one of the groups opposing the government of the Central African Republic killed three Russian journalists who tried to verify these rumors.
Information