Russia may entrench its influence in CAR

Significance

Russia on June 28 rejected as “lies” similar allegations by the United States, United Kingdom and France at the UN Security Council. The exchanges come against the backdrop of rising diplomatic tensions between Russia and France in CAR.

Impacts

• Touadera’s ongoing offensive against rebel forces threatens to deliver a fatal blow to the peace deal he struck with them in 2019.
• Expanding Russian control over key mining sites could be a persistent source of frictions absent sophisticated local arrangements.
• Human rights concerns will deter some African leaders from engaging with Russia, but not all.