Published: 03/05/2022 – 03:48 PM Updated: 03/05/2022 – 03:52 PM
In the Central African Republic, several dozen people gathered this Saturday morning, March 5, in the capital Bangui to express their support for Russia in its war against Ukraine.
With our correspondent in Bangui, Carol Valad
On March 2, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Then the Central African Republic abstained, as did Mali, South Africa and 14 other African countries. But the Bangui authorities have not yet taken an official position on the issue.
Since 2018, Russian paramilitaries have been fighting against armed groups alongside the Armed Forces of Central Africa (CACA). Officially, Russia recognizes about 1,300 instructors who came to train the Central African army. But according to the UN, it is the mercenaries hired by the private military company Wagner that are responsible for serious human rights violations against civilians across the country.
As the pro-Russian demonstration ended this Saturday, banners and posters carried slogans such as “Russia + CAR = friendship,” “Russia and the Central African Republic against Nazism,” or even “It’s NATO’s fault.”
“France did nothing, but Russia saved us”
Initiated by this meeting of the National Galaxy, the association is considered close to power. Its president, Blaise-Didasien Cossimachi, addressed the crowd, explaining that Ukraine had provoked the conflict, before accusing France of “wanting to kill President Touadéra.” Applause followed, then the national anthem was played.
“We are here to support Russia as it has protected us from the rebels,” explains one of the organizers. “France did nothing, but Russia saved us,” the young man added.
There are many children in the front row in the crowd. A group of young women waved flags: “I don’t know what’s going on there, but they told me to come,” one of them said. Then this student passing by shared with us his fears that a war in Europe would have repercussions, especially economic ones in his country.
See also: War in Ukraine: at the UN, African countries refrain from any support for the Russian invasion