NewsBite

Wagner faces turf war as client state welcomes Russian forces

Central African ­Republic offers to host Moscow’s first substantial military base on the continent since the fall of the Soviet Union.

Wagner has capitalised on resentment in Francophone Africa against France, a former colonial power
Wagner has capitalised on resentment in Francophone Africa against France, a former colonial power

The Russian-backed government of the Central African ­Republic has offered to host Moscow’s first substantial military base on the continent since the fall of the Soviet Union.

The proposed facility, which could accommodate up to 10,000 troops, was revealed by the CAR’s ambassador to Moscow in an interview with a Russian newspaper.

“Now we need a Russian military base with 5000 to 10,000 soldiers. At the same time, they could be deployed to other countries if necessary. We have asked for this,” ambassador Leon ­Dodonu-Punagaza told Izvestia.

Senior government officials made the offer during a visit to Moscow in March and agreement on construction could be reached within weeks, the ­ambassador said. CAR leader Faustin-Archange Touadera is due to meet President Vladimir Putin next month at a summit in St Petersburg.

It is unclear how Yevgeny ­Prigozhin, the confrontational leader of Wagner, would react to the arrival of Russian soldiers on what he is likely to view as his turf. Tensions between Wagner and the Russian military turned violent recently when its mercenaries seized and beat a commander accused of ordering the army to open fire on their convoy in eastern Ukraine. The commander said after being freed that Wagner fighters had also captured and tortured other Russian troops, including throwing acid into a soldier’s eyes.

Mr Prigozhin has also said he will defy an order by Russian ­Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, for paramilitary groups to sign contracts with the defence ministry. The Wagner boss refused to back down even after Mr Putin publicly sided with General Shoigu this week.

“When we started participating in this war, no one said we would be obliged to conclude agreements,” Mr Prigozhin said, adding that it would be “shameful” for Wagner to submit to ­General Shoigu’s order.

News of the base coincides with an announcement by Mr Touadera that he will hold a ­referendum on constitutional ­reform that could extend his presidency to a third term, ­beyond the limit of two terms. It was condemned by opposition parties and rights groups as part of Moscow’s plan to consolidate its control of the diamond-rich nation. Mr Touadera has relied on Wagner to keep him in power since he signed a deal with it in 2018 as rebels threatened to overrun the capital, Bangui.

Wagner has at least 1500 personnel in the former French colony, one of the world’s poorest countries. The deployment has given Moscow influence at the heart of the military junta as well as a springboard into Africa, which has huge mineral wealth and potentially lucrative markets for Russian-manufactured weapons. Learning Russian is now compulsory in CAR’s universities.

Wagner has capitalised on growing resentment in francophone Africa towards the former colonial powers in Paris and worsening jihadist insurgencies in countries bordering the CAR. Mr Putin has signed bilateral military co-operation agreements with more than 20 African countries since Wagner’s arrival in Bangui.

A deal to build a Russian naval facility in Sudan capable of mooring nuclear-powered surface vessels has been stalled by a struggle for power over the country. Next month’s Russia-Africa summit is a fresh opportunity for Moscow, Viktor Bondarev, head of Russia’s Federation Council defence and ­security committee, said.

“We shall hope that we will be able to reach new agreements and expand our military presence on the African continent. The only thing we need is desire and political will of African leaders,” he told the state news agency Tass.

The meeting will help Mr Putin reaffirm his own relationships with Africa’s presidents amid tensions between the ­Russian defence ministry and Wagner.

A delegation of presidents from Africa was expected in Kyiv on Friday for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr ­Zelensky on ways to resolve the conflict.

THE TIMES

Add your comment to this story

To join the conversation, please Don't have an account? Register

Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/world/the-times/wagner-faces-turf-war-as-client-state-welcomes-russian-forces/news-story/156e0af80d5548d4a251522e2aa09fa6