Wagner mercenaries maintain control in the Central African Republic, resisting Moscow’s efforts to replace them with the new Africa Corps security structure.
LIBREVILLE: A new mural in Bangui depicts Russian President Vladimir Putin alongside paramilitary fighters and Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadera.
The Russian embassy called the artwork “a sign of our common victory over chaos and instability” ahead of Sunday’s presidential and parliamentary elections.
The mural underscores the entrenched role of the Wagner paramilitary group, which remains the CAR government’s key security partner in exchange for lucrative mining concessions.
Retired Russian military officer Sergei Eledinov said Wagner forces have successfully improved security in the CAR.
“The CAR was, in fact, the only successful positive case,” Eledinov told AFP, referring to Russia’s military presence in Africa.
He noted that roads have become safer and attacks have decreased since Wagner’s deployment in 2018.
Following Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin’s death in 2023, Russia’s defence ministry has tried to replace the group in Africa with a new umbrella organisation called the Africa Corps.
This transition has succeeded in countries like Mali, but Wagner retains control in the CAR.
A European military source said Russian authorities “have failed to convince Touadera to give up Wagner in the CAR”.
The source added that paying Wagner with mining concessions suits Touadera better than paying the Africa Corps in cash.
Wagner fighters were instrumental in pushing back a 2020 rebel uprising and have helped secure major cities ahead of the current elections.
The group’s local front company, the Officers’ Union for International Security, regularly posts about its security activities on Telegram.
Half of the Russian contractors in the country are veterans of the war in Ukraine, including Touadera’s security adviser, Dmitry Podolsky.
Human rights campaigners and the opposition have accused the mercenaries of widespread abuses, which the Russian embassy did not comment on.
Touadera recently confirmed talks with Moscow about the military presence but denied being pressured to switch to the Africa Corps.
“Why do you speak of pressure?” he told France 24, pointing to “friendship and brotherhood” between the two countries.
Analyst Charles Bouessel said Wagner is “better established” in the CAR with solid economic activities and a positive security record.
Paul Crescent Beninga said the proposed handover “has created tensions” but expressed hope for a smooth resolution.
Eledinov believes Moscow is unlikely to rush to dismantle a structure that has proven successful in the near future.
