The defense ministries of the two countries are “continuing negotiations” regarding the installation of a base for the Russian army, said Alexander Bikantov, Russian ambassador in Bangui. “If Russia abandons us today, we will be devoured by Western states who have done nothing for our country since our independence,” said Fidel Ngouandika, advisor to the Central African president.
Russia began to act - at least unofficially - in 2017, through the private military company Wagner.