Illustrative image: Goran Tomasevic / Reuters
Terroris groups operating in the Central African Republic (CAR) has demanded the CAR government to break ties with Russia because Moscow is threatening the “democracy” in the African country.
In a released statement, Abdulai Issen, one of the leaders of the CNDS (an alliance of the CAR terrorist groups previously known as Seleka), gave 48 hours to the CAR government and all other forces, including the Russians, to withdraw from the territory claimed by the CNDS.
He accused CAR President Faustin-Archange Touadera of participating in the conspiracy with “Russian mercenaries”, which is dangerous for the “democracy”. According to the CNDS statement, the Russian “mercenaries” in the CAR is headed by some “Valeri Zakarov”.
Le CNDS (FPRC, UPC, MPC) ne reconnaît plus la légitimité du Psdt Touadéra après la destitution du PAN Meckassoua. Ultimatum de 48h donné aux fonctionnaires centrafricains et aux militaires russes de quitter les territoires sous son contrôle #CARcrisis #RCA pic.twitter.com/kF8nbdpfWV
— Edouard Dropsy (@EdouardDropsy) October 27, 2018
The terrorist group’s claims rapidly become widely popular in the French mainstream media. Paris sees the CAR, its former colony, as its sphere of intersts. So, it’s ready to employ a wide range of measures, including a direct support to the terrorists, in order to oppose the growing Russian influence. It’s expected that English-language mainstream media outlets and various Western goverments will soon join the terrorist-launched campaign to blame Russia for undermining “democracy” in the CAR.
On October 22, the Russian Foreign Ministry released a detailed comment on the mainstream media’s speculations about the Russian-CAR cooperation. It adressed Foreign Policy Concept of the Russian Federation, which was approved by President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin on November 30, 2016.
“Russia will expand multidimensional interaction with African States both in bilateral and multilateral settings by improving political dialogue and promoting mutually beneficial trade and economic ties, stepping up comprehensive cooperation that serves common interests, contribute to preventing regional conflicts and crisis situations, as well as facilitate post-conflict settlement in Africa. Promoting partnership ties with the African Union and sub-regional organizations is an important element of this policy,” the document says.
The foreign ministry also pointed out that Russia is involved in political, economic and humanitarian cooperation with African states as well as assisting them in resolving internal conflicts and combating the terrorist threats, which has grown following the NATO intervention in Libya. In order to achieve these goals, Russia employs political-diplomatic measures and military-technical cooperation in the framework of Internaional Law and resolutions of the UN Security Council. Using its existing programs of military technical cooperation with African states, Moscow pays special attention to combating the terrorism in the region.
The ministry pointed out that Russian economic operators are active in Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Ghana, Gabon, Kongo, Mozambique, Nigeria, Ethiopia the South African Republic. It pointed out that the CAR government requested Russian support to strengthen the CAR Armed Forces. With the approval from the UN Security Council, the Russian Defense Ministry send a shipment of small arms and munition and deployed 175 instructors to train CAR servicemembers. Over 1,000 CAR servicemembers had been trained already. Russia is also planning deploy 60 more instructors to assist the CAR military.
The foreign ministry also pointed out the Russian-CAR cooperation to restore stability in the country has drawn attention of some foreign states, which are not contributing to the solution of the current crisis there.
Valeri Zakarov is a well know mid-level “good Russian” KGB character from Tom Clancy’s many novels. Maybe these guys need to double check on the guys they pay for Intelligence.
Da? So he’s a very busy man. In addition to appearing in Clancy books and being a mercenary in Africa, he also plays football, professionally.
since what ever you tell the morons they buy it and repeat it as a sure thing explain me why they must do a better job to make their salaries when they can do it reading a novel and making up stories? Easy money.
There is somewhere in the world where democracy actually exists? F.uk.us have been sucking the life out of Africa for centuries, the Russian’s might bring some justice, killing the profits. So let’s not confuse Imperial domination with Democracy. Or redefine the term. Like Putin said, “You make me laugh.”
To show how much the general public, especially South Front, understands about Africa is that there is nothing democratic nor terrorist about any of this. One state is mad a Russia for selling weapons to their enemies. Washington, Moscow, MSM, and the general public probably won’t even notice unless actual fighting breaks out.
Wonder if U.S. is financing the terrorist to justify these allegations..?
Naturally the US / F do not like Russia in CAR as it gives them the opportunity of stopping the ISIS – Al Qaeda proxy network they are developing in south Libya. Dangerously too close to creating peace.
I’ve not understood who fight who for what. Seems to me that there are 2 faction (muslim vs christians) who fight, without any national government. Also France never helped any of the two (send military only to protect French Citiziens). But i don’t undestand the political motive of the war.
You left out one faction.