Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadera was sworn in for a second five-year term on Tuesday, vowing to eliminate armed groups and attract investment to the gold- and diamond-rich country wracked by prolonged political instability.
BBC News
Published
image captionPrivate Russian security guards have been providing security to the government
Russia has sent an additional 300 military instructors to the Central African Republic (CAR) to deal with what its foreign ministry calls a sharp degradation of security .
It said the CAR government, which is threatened by rebel groups ahead of Sunday s presidential election, had asked for help.
Former President François Bozizé denies plotting a coup.
UN peacekeepers have said the rebel advance has been halted.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said the Russian military was not involved in fighting in the CAR and that the military instructors were not the army nor the special forces .
Has Russia Sent 100s of Troops to Central Africa? Published December 21st, 2020 - 12:10 GMT
The situation in the CAR seems to be deteriorating rather rapidly (Twitter)
Highlights
Touadera, who is seeking re-election, has struggled to maintain stability in the divided country.
The Central African Republic (CAR) has declared that Russia and Rwanda have deployed hundreds of troops to the nation following an alleged military coup plot ahead of this week’s key presidential and legislative elections. Russia has sent several hundred soldiers and heavy weapons within the framework of a bilateral cooperation agreement, CAR’s government spokesman Ange Maxime Kazagui announced on Monday, adding, The Rwandans have also sent several hundred men who are on the ground and have started fighting,
BBC News
Published
image copyrightAFP
image captionCAR President Faustin Archange Touadéra was seen at an election rally escorted by the presidential guard and Rwandan UN peacekeepers
Rwanda has deployed what it called a protection force to the Central African Republic after its peacekeepers there were attacked by rebels advancing to the capital, Bangui.
The Rwandan and CAR governments have accused ex-President François Bozizé of backing the rebels and plotting a coup, which he has denied.
UN peacekeepers have said the rebel advance has been halted.
Mr Bozizé has been barred from a presidential election due on Sunday.
Russia has also sent several hundred soldiers and heavy weapons to the country to support the government, the AFP news agency quotes a CAR government spokesman as saying.
published : 21 Dec 2020 at 08:45
5 The motorcade of President Faustin-Archange Touadera arrives for an electoral rally escorted by the presidential guard, Russian mercenaries, and Rwandan UN peacekeepers on Saturday
BANGUI (CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC) - Rebel forces advancing on the Central African Republic s capital Bangui have been pushed back and the situation is under control , a spokesman for UN peacekeeping forces said Sunday, as tensions mount a week before key elections.
The government had alleged an attempted coup when three of the powerful armed groups that control most of the country s territory began advancing towards the capital along critical main roads, ahead of presidential and legislative elections scheduled for December 27.