"We Are a Russian Colony," Self-Deprecating Central African Republic

Russian Mercenaries Seize Control of Central African Republic Amid Ukraine War
Locals Say "Russian Mercenaries Better Than UN Forces"

At the Russia-Africa Summit held in Sochi, Russia in 2019, President Touad?ra of the Central African Republic (left) warmly shakes hands with Russian President Putin. Photo by EPA, Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] Reports have emerged that Russian mercenaries have taken control of the Central African Republic (CAR) while the West is focused on the Russia-Ukraine war.

On the 24th (local time), The New York Times (NYT) published an article titled "Putin Wanted Loyalty, Found It in Africa," detailing the activities of the Russian private military company Wagner Group in the Central African Republic. Located in the heart of the African continent, CAR gained independence from France in 1960. Due to a civil war ongoing since 2012, security is extremely unstable, and 14,500 United Nations peacekeepers are stationed there. However, locals trust the Russian mercenaries more than the UN peacekeepers.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the resulting inflation have made CAR's already difficult situation even more desperate. Prices of essentials like cooking oil have risen by over 50%, and gasoline is unavailable at gas stations, only obtainable through smuggled cans or bottles. However, many Central Africans do not blame Russia. The NYT reported that tired of Western hypocrisy and empty promises, Central Africans tend to support Putin more than their former colonial rulers. They believe Russia helped quell their decade-long civil war. One Central African said, "When your house is on fire, you don't care about the color of the water used to put it out," adding, "Thanks to the Russian mercenaries, we have found stability. They are violent but effective."

Flora Asangu, a displaced person and single mother of three who spoke to the NYT, said, "The UN peacekeepers just patrol," and "When rebel groups kill someone, the UN troops only take pictures, but the Russians kill those people." She added, "That has brought us some peace."

Wagner mercenaries, wearing masks that cover half their faces, openly carry automatic rifles and drive unmarked vehicles, roaming freely throughout CAR, yet no one dares to restrain or punish them. Moreover, they behave like outlaws on the roads, openly stealing gasoline for their vehicles and sometimes harassing civilians.

The Wagner Group is also involved in mining and exporting gold, diamonds, and timber concessions, and is known to have close ties with Central African President Faustin-Archange Touad?ra, who has been in power since 2016. Given this situation, Jean-Serge Bokassa, a former interior minister of CAR, once bitterly remarked, "Today, we are Russia's colony."

Russian mercenaries set foot in CAR after President Touad?ra's election in 2016. They gradually expanded their activities and helped secure mining and logging rights by supporting Touad?ra's reelection. France once deployed 1,600 troops to CAR but withdrew all forces last month.

The NYT also reported that countries south of the Sahara Desert in Africa, including CAR, Mali, and Sudan, where Wagner exerts influence, hold positions on the Russia-Ukraine war that differ from the West. In March, when a UN emergency special session passed a resolution condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine, only 28 of Africa's 54 countries voted in favor; the rest abstained or did not participate, and Eritrea voted 'against.'

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.