“The security landscape in the Central African Republic continues to evolve with the arrival of new actors. While the Russian paramilitary group Wagner is in the midst of a reorganization phase, the American private military company Bancroft Global Development is in discussions with the Central African government.
According to information provided by Bancroft to AFP, the company has started discussions with the government of the Central African Republic, but it denies any deployment in Bangui. She simply claims to have established a framework for discussion for possible future activities.
For his part, the spokesperson for the Central African presidency mentioned that the country was seeking to diversify its security partners, in particular by calling on Russia, Angola, Morocco and Guinea to train its soldiers. He also mentioned a proposal from the United States to train the Central African army.
The Russian Wagner group, which arrived in the Central African Republic in 2018, initially claimed to be present to train the local army. However, its presence was strengthened at the end of 2020 in the face of a rebel offensive on Bangui. This rise in Russian influence in the CAR was accompanied by the withdrawal of the French army, a former colonial power.
The Wagner Group, however, is currently undergoing restructuring following an abortive mutiny in Russia in June and the death of its founder, Evgeni Prigozhin, in August. At the same time, the United States is said to have offered the CAR a security agreement aimed at keeping the country away from Wagner. However, neither Washington nor Bangui have confirmed this information.
It should be noted that Bancroft, despite his collaboration with the Central African government, distances himself from the policies of the American authorities. It states on its website that its largest financial contributor is the US State Department.
This evolution of the security landscape in the CAR raises many questions about the influence of foreign actors in the country. As Russia and the United States appear to compete for a foothold, it is crucial to consider the implications for the stability and sovereignty of the Central African Republic. The future of security in the country remains uncertain as new actors enter the scene.”