The increasing Russian involvement in CAR during the pandemic.
By: More Intelligence
Tags: Bangui, Central African Republic, International Relations, Russia, Minusca

Recent reports regarding the deaths of three UN soldiers as a result of an attack by rebel forces in the Central African Republic (CAR) are a rather representative example of the dismal situation the country has been in recent years.

Since gaining independence from France some 60 years ago, the country has known coups, uprisings, civil wars, destruction, and disorder.

The situation in CAR, which is considered one of the poorest countries in Africa (and in the world), has deteriorated since 2013 until it can no longer be seen as a sovereign state, at least not a one that is controlling all its defined territory, but more a central government, centered in the capital Bangui, with no real control outside the capital (and not even in some parts of the capital).

Foreign players have entered this vacuum in recent years, trying — each for its own interests — to allegedly strengthen President Faustin-Archange Touadéra’s government.

While in relation to the activity of the relatively large UN force operating in the country, real intentions towards order and stability can still be attributed, in relation to the other foreign forces operating in it — mainly France and Russia, their involvement seems to come for utilitarian and cynical reasons, and from a Neo-Colonialist view, which sees the country as a fertile ground for the utilization of natural resources, as a basis for activities throughout the continent, and no less important — as a captive customer in everything related to military procurement and security assistance.

In recent years there have been increasing reports on the involvement of Russian “military instructors”, not only in training and coaching central government forces, but also in various covert activities across the country, the purpose of which is probably to expand Russian control over power centers and state resources.

According to some reports, the Kremlin is so trying to hide its secret activities in the country that in 2018, three independent Russian journalists, who came to investigate the matter, were found dead in what is suspected to be a deliberate execution.

On this background, the reports from last week on the strengthening of the Russian presence in the country ahead of the presidential and parliamentary elections, which are expected to take place on December 27, were not surprising. Officially, the Russians are operating under a security cooperation agreement with the central government, and their goal is to strengthen this government in the face of rebel attacks, which are intensifying around the elections. In practice, from acquaintance with the Kremlin’s patterns of operation in the past, it can be estimated that this may be a cynical opportunity taken by the Russians to deepen their grip in the country.

This involvement also comes on the background of the interim period of the change of presidents in the United States, and considering the COVID-19 pandemic, which most of the world is busy with these days. There seems to be no better time to carry out low-profile activities and establish facts on the ground until the US and the international system will return to routine.

It seems that strengthening ties with Touadéra’s government has borne fruit, and today CAR may be considered a Russian protectorate for all intents and purposes, in a manner reminiscent of Soviet involvement in various African countries during the Cold War.

If the United States continues to stay away from real in-depth involvement in what is happening in the continent, as has clearly happened during the Trump tenure, it can be assumed that Russian control will only deepen to other countries in the continent as well.

If the Russian involvement was not so self-interested and cynical, it could still be regarded as a positive and important move, but because Russian conduct in the international system in general and in Africa specifically is almost always out of narrow view of Russian interests, and in the absence of strong factors limiting this involvement (and France Is not considered a restraining or limiting factor in this context), then it can be estimated that this involvement only perpetuates the existing situation in CAR and does not improve it.

CAR needs a completely different model of international involvement, a model of military activity to neutralize hostile elements — combined with civilian activity to strengthen government institutions and improve the country’s poor living conditions.

More Russian forces ostensibly coming to assist the existing government is another thing of the same, and this move is not helping in advancing the country to a positive direction.

CAR needs real help from a coalition of African (AU) and Western (US, EU) elements, with a real desire to make the country a better place. The Russian presence in the country does just the opposite.