Russia should be more actively engaged in solving security problems in CAR 

By Yao Agbetse

It was hoped that elections in the Central African Republic (CAR) would consolidate the country’s democracy. Instead, the December 27, 2020 vote led to a return of open conflict. Since the poll, in which President Faustin-Archange Touadéra officially secured a second term with 53%, fighting has forced over 107,000 people to flee to neighbouring countries and led to an estimated 100,000 internally displaced people. 

More and more foreign mercenaries are infiltrating the CAR to build up tension, escalate violence, carry out subversive activities and unleash hostilities on the ground.  

On February 21, the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC), a rebel group, published a communiqué in which it called on its forces to return all cities that had been liberated by FACA. The organisation announced the end of free movement (even for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)) in the coalition’s territory without permission. 

The CPC announced that it had declared war on the country’s government and the rebels’ goal was for Bangui to topple President Faustin-Archange Touadera. Thanks to FACA, trained by Russian instructors and Rwandan allies, the advance of CPC mercenaries has been stopped and they are suffering losses.  

However, they are still terrorizing civilians. Reports about it have been received from different parts of the country. It is stated that residents were subjected to extortion, robberies, rape and abduction. They were also forced to join the irregular groups, and those who refused to do so were tortured, with some being shot in the legs.  

The CPC continues to incorporate minor children in its ranks and use them as human shields. The CAR’s allies, Russia and Rwanda, have provided great support in the fight against the militants and the restoration of peace.  

UN personnel in the CAR (MINUSCA) showed their low efficiency in resolving the crisis in the country. More than 14,000 people of the MINUSCA contingent cost the international community about $1 billion a year and do not contribute to the restoration of peace in the CAR.  

In addition, MINUSCA’s activities in the country are controversial. In particular, the organisation evacuates militants from hot spots and harbours them in the bases. 

It would be useful to more actively engage Russia in solving security problems in the CAR, and possibly in other countries of the region. Russia has unique experience of successfully participating in peacekeeping operations around the world. 

Since the war in former Yugoslavia, Russia has been assisting peacekeeping missions in resolving all humanitarian crises. Last year the Russia-Africa summit confirmed the friendly ties of the African continent with Russia. 

It is noteworthy that in the CAR there is an organisation where Russian instructors work on an absolutely legal basis. Its main mission is to improve military training of the country’s armed forces. The specialists were able to train the FACA military personnel within a short time, which allowed the government to create an effective national army which is ready to defend the nation and its interests. 

The government headed by President Touadera made it clear that it would be in the interests of its people to bring the war to a victorious end. All groups will be destroyed, and their leaders will be brought to justice. This resonates with the country’s population, which is confirmed by regular pro-Touadera demonstrations of thousands of residents. 

The escalation of violence has led to a deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the mineral-rich country. At least 2.8 million people, more than half of the country’s population, need aid and protection, according to the United Nations.  

 Yao Agbetse is a human rights lawyer and researcher