The 21st-century Scramble for Africa: France suspends aid to the CAR over an alleged Russian-led disinformation campaign
Admin GHRTV
France announced on June 7, 2021, the suspension of military cooperation and budgetary aid to the Central African Republic (CAR) over an alleged anti-French campaign. The Ministry of the Armed Forces of France stated that the reasons for the suspension of military cooperation lie in an anti-French disinformation campaign, disseminated by the CAR government, and backed by Russia.
Since the end of 2012, the CAR has been fueled with ongoing violence and civil war, after a coalition of rebel militias known as the Séléka overthrew the then-President of CAR, François Bozizé. Both France and Russia have been at the forefront of stopping the violence by supplying weapons and providing military training to the Central African Armed Forces (FACA). Russia dispatched in December 2020 two paramilitary groups, Sewa Security Services, and the Wagner Group, tasked with training the army, guarding airports, state ministries, and ensuring the security of the President of the CAR, Mr. Faustin-Archange Touadéra.
France disapproved of the increased Russian presence in the CAR, one of the former French colonies. Therefore, France’s suspension of military and budgetary aid comes as no surprise. The Ministry of the Armed Forces of France specified that military training provided to the FACA by French troops stationed in Gabon had been suspended. However, France would continue their contributions to the European Union Training Mission in the Central African Republic (EUTM-RCA) and the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs added that the budgetary aid cuts would not affect humanitarian aid and projects directly benefiting the Central African population.
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