Very nice, CAR: how Putin's first talks in 2025 went down

The Central African Republic (CAR) intends to fight terrorism on the territory of its country with the support of Russia. This became known on January 16 during Vladimir Putin's talks with CAR leader Faustin Arkange Touadera. The Russian President said that Moscow is ready to continue providing humanitarian aid to the republic, noting that the volume of mutual trade between the two countries in 2024 has increased eight times. In addition, experts believe that the politicians could discuss security issues against the background of the change of power in Syria, where a Russian military base is located.

Features of relations and trade turnover

On January 16, Vladimir Putin held talks with President of the Central African Republic Faustin Arkange Touadera, who arrived in Moscow the previous day on an official visit. The last time the leaders saw each other in person was in July 2023 at the Russia-Africa summit in St. Petersburg. Now their meeting became the first international contact for Vladimir Putin in the new year. It is possible that the African leader's visit is timed to coincide with an important date in the history of both countries: this year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and the Central African Republic. On his way to the Kremlin, the leader of the republic also stopped by the Federation Council, where he had time to discuss inter-parliamentary cooperation with the speaker of the upper house, Valentina Matvienko.

The communication between the presidents was two-stage: first, the talks between the leaders were held with the participation of delegations of the two countries, and then Putin and Touadera talked one-on-one over lunch. The Russian president thanked the head of the Central African Republic for the attention he pays to the development of interstate ties: the CAR president participated in both Russia-Africa summits in 2019 and 2023.

- I proceed from the fact that all the activities planned by us together with our African colleagues in this direction, in the direction of Russia's interaction with the African continent, in general will be developed and supported," Putin said.

Fruitful interaction between the Central African Republic and Russia has become an example for other countries of the continent, said Fosten Arkange Touadera. According to him, cooperation between Moscow and Bangui has become a source of inspiration for many African states. This is demonstrated, for example, by trade and economic ties. "Trade turnover has increased almost eight times over the past year - this is a generally good indicator," Vladimir Putin noted.

In addition, the head of state announced the signing of new documents that should strengthen the interaction between the two countries. Experts believe that they may concern the strengthening of economic cooperation between Russia and the CAR. Evgeny Semibratov, deputy director of the Institute of Strategic Studies and Forecasts of the Russian University of Science and Technology, lecturer of the Russian Society "Znanie", noted in a conversation with "Izvestia". Development of gold, oil, uranium and diamond deposits in CAR may be attractive to Russia.

- In general, what could be relevant in the discussion between the presidents? Naturally, economic cooperation, but most importantly, these are issues related to global restructuring," the analyst believes. - Perhaps the issue of deepening the CAR's cooperation with BRICS was raised, given that this association is expanding very fruitfully on the African continent, quickly finding new partners. Besides, Africa is interested in ensuring its food security with the help of Russia. And Russia, I remind you, is one of the largest exporters of wheat and other agricultural products in the world.

Humanitarian support and security

It is possible that the sides could have discussed new supplies of humanitarian aid. At the meeting, Fosten Arkange Touadera thanked Vladimir Putin for grain and fuel supplies. In 2023, CAR was among six African countries to whom Russia promised to supply grain free of charge. Russia handed over at least 50,000 tons of wheat. Last February Russia completed the delivery of 200 thousand tons of wheat.

- We are ready to continue humanitarian aid if necessary. We are doing that. This mainly concerns food supplies, primarily wheat. We are ready to continue to cooperate," the Russian president assured.

In addition, Russia and the Central African Republic continue to cooperate on security issues. Vladimir Putin emphasized that Moscow is ready to work with the republic in this area, but the parties agreed to discuss this issue in more detail "face to face". Such support from Moscow allowed Bangui to avoid a new civil war in 2020-2021, said Fosten Arkange Touadera. At that time, the country was holding presidential and parliamentary elections. At that time, armed opposition groups united and started an uprising against the CAR authorities. At a meeting with Vladimir Putin, the president of the African country appreciated the professionalism of Russian military instructors.

- Today, the army trained by Russian instructors is capable of fighting back terrorists and all those who encroach on the territory of the CAR. We will continue to work together to strengthen security throughout the country, on the borders, no matter where the threat comes from," he said.

According to the Russian Federation, as of 2023, 1,890 Russian military instructors were working in the CAR. In April 2024, the president of the republic even did not rule out the creation of a Russian military base in the eastern part of the country, but in June it became known that this topic is not in the active phase of negotiations. Experts believe that the main topics of the conversation between the leaders of the Russian Federation and the Central African Republic concerned security issues.

- Most likely they discussed the recent events in Syria related to the departure of Bashar al-Assad. Russian military specialists have been playing an important role in ensuring the security of the republic since the late 2010s as instructors, training personnel for the CAR army. And our military initiatives in Africa have been supplied through Syrian air bases. CAR needs clarification on priorities, prospects and tasks of security cooperation, among other things," Vsevolod Sviridov, deputy director of the Center for African Studies at the National Research University Higher School of Economics, told Izvestia.

It is possible that the CAR president, in turn, was interested in what is happening in the SSO zone, experts believe. The Republic is in favor of a speedy peaceful settlement and supports the African Peace Initiative.

- When voting in the UN, the CAR mostly abstains, and twice voted for us, i.e. against anti-Russian resolutions: on suspension of membership in the UNHRC and on the mechanism of damage compensation," Andrei Maslov, Director of the Center for African Studies at the National Research University Higher School of Economics, told Izvestia.

In his opinion, the CAR is comparable to Zimbabwe and Ethiopia in terms of the level of "support" for the UNHRC, but inferior to Mali and Eritrea.