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EU suspends military training in Central Africa over Russian mercenaries

The European Union Training Mission in Central African Republic says it has advised, educated and trained Car's forces since 2016 as they fight to stabilise a country facing multiple rebel insurgencies.

Reuters
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A Central African armed forces recruit aims an AK-47s assault rifle during a shooting session at the Camp Leclerc base in Bouar, northwest from the capital Bangui, on Aug 05, 2019. The European Union Training Mission trains the Central African Armed Forces at the rehabilitated Leclrec camp, a former French base that was handed over to the Central African State in 1997. Photo: AFP
A Central African armed forces recruit aims an AK-47s assault rifle during a shooting session at the Camp Leclerc base in Bouar, northwest from the capital Bangui, on Aug 05, 2019. The European Union Training Mission trains the Central African Armed Forces at the rehabilitated Leclrec camp, a former French base that was handed over to the Central African State in 1997. Photo: AFP

The European Union has suspended its training mission for soldiers in Central African Republic (CAR) because of fears it could get tied up in violations of international law by Russian mercenaries, the mission said on Wednesday.

The European Union Training Mission in Central African Republic (EUTM RCA) says it has advised, educated and trained more than 3,400 members of CAR’s forces since 2016 as they fight to stabilise a country facing multiple rebel insurgencies.

Its job has been complicated by the presence of hundreds of Russian operatives, including many from the Russian private military contractor Wagner Group, that have arrived since 2018 and have been working in close coordination with the CAR army.

“We would need the guarantee that the soldiers trained by EUTM are not employed by the Wagner mercenaries,” an EUTM RCA spokesman told Reuters. “For the moment, we don’t have a response.”

EUTM will continue to advise CAR forces, he said.

A spokesman for the CAR government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

UN experts have said that Wagner members in CAR have committed human rights abuses, including summary executions, arbitrary detentions and torture.

The EU imposed sanctions on Wagner on Monday, accusing it of carrying out clandestine operations on the Russian government’s behalf.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Wagner neither represents the Russian state nor is paid by it. He has also said private military contractors have the right to work anywhere in the world as long as they do not break Russian law.

Reuters has been unable to reach the Wagner Group for comment.

The EU has reacted with alarm to reports that Wagner forces could also deploy to Mali to help the government there battle Islamist militants linked to Al-Qaeda and Islamic State.

France, the former colonial power in CAR and Mali, has longstanding military ties across Francophone Africa. Analysts see Wagner’s deployments as part of a Russian strategy aimed in part at undermining those.

The US said on Wednesday it was “alarmed” by Wagner’s possible deployment to Mali. Malian authorities have declined to comment specifically on reports about Wagner but say they have the right to work with any security partner they choose.