Russia and the Central African Republic (CAR) signed a military deal on Tuesday paving the way for Moscow to step up training of CAR's armed forces, Russian news agencies reported.
Russia's growing military ties with CAR and its heightened interest in Africa were thrust into the spotlight last month when three Russian journalists were killed while investigating the alleged presence of Russian mercenaries there.
The agreement was signed at a state arms exhibition near Moscow attended by the two countries' defense ministers, Russian news agencies reported.
Russia delivered light arms to the Central African Republic's security forces earlier this year and said it had deployed 175 military and civilian instructors to train them.
The RIA news agency cited Marie-Noelle Koyara, CAR's defense minister, as saying the accord would spur the Russian military training effort.
Koyara did not specify whether the training would take place in Russia, or in CAR with the help of Russian instructors.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
