Russian military base in the Central African Republic: Should our boys be sent to Africa? -By Mikhail Shchipanov

The words of the once popular song “I don’t need the Turkish coast. And I don’t need Africa!” are becoming less and less relevant. There is a global game going on between world powers. And in this context, military bases become fulcrum points. After the collapse of the USSR, our country had to abandon its military facilities for a number of reasons, including the technical tracking base in Lourdes in Cuba and the port of Cam Ranh in Vietnam. But, as they say, the time comes to collect stones. And the authorities of the Central African Republic (CAR) are themselves ready to invite our military to be stationed 80 km from the capital.

Russia begins to disperse
The Russian military operation in Syria to support the local legal regime secured our rights to the Russian Navy’s home port of Tartus and the Air Force base. And this is a serious help for our permanent presence in the Mediterranean region. Our military cooperation with Cuba is being restored. Several times there was information about the prospects for the emergence of our support base in Sudan, on the Red Sea in the area of the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

However, negotiations about such a facility in Port Sudan, where our planes could land and ships in the roadstead, have been going on for a long time. The Sudanese authorities changed, but always actively bargained, demanding the supply of modern weapons and economic assistance. Now, according to media reports, all such issues have been settled.

In addition, information appeared that Sergey Lavrov, during his African tour, agreed on the appearance of our military facility in Eritrea. On the shores of the same Red Sea, through which a considerable part of world trade usually passes. And for us, with the increase in “parallel import”, control over key communications becomes of paramount importance. In addition, the NATO base in Djibouti is fully operational here.

Will we return to the Central African Republic?
Now the prospect of our permanent base in the Central African Republic is visible. Moreover, in fact, for the second time, the official invitation of the CAR authorities to our military, who have proven themselves as instructors in this country, has been confirmed. But for many years it has been shaken by military coups and civil war, clashes between Christians and Muslims.

It was believed that in 2021 there were about five hundred of our instructors in the CAR, mostly then associated with the Wagner PMC. Now we are talking about official presence. In other words, this base could actually be given the character of a permanent military one.

And if so, then in the CAR, for example, helicopter or aviation units will be able to be based as a guarantee of stability and subsequent development of the state, which is rich in diamonds, gold and many other valuable minerals. Moreover, if there is a military base, it will be much less risky for our businessmen to invest in the CAR and conduct business there.

Memories of the future
In the 70s, many of our military and civilian specialists were present in the CAR. But in the early 80s, in the best colonial traditions, the French army carried out a coup in the country. The capital of the country, Bangui, was under complete foreign control. I myself almost got hit on the head with a rifle butt from a nervous French sergeant. Our entire colony was evacuated within a couple of days at the insistence of the new authorities.

Now we are not just returning to the CAR, but we are getting a chance to truly gain a foothold in this country in the center of Africa. Yes, the Central African Republic does not have access to the seas and oceans, and this may complicate communications with our facility in the event of a serious global aggravation. But the republic borders on Sudan, where we may finally have a naval base. Another thing is that during the conflict in Ukraine, the Kremlin may have other priorities.

*This article was translated from Russian into English by Kestér Kenn Klomegâh.

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