France slams Russian 'seizure of power' in CAfrica
France on Friday accused Russia of proceeding with a "seizure of power" in the Central African Republic, acknowledging that the CAR's cooperation with Russian "mercenaries" had prompted Paris to scale down its military support.
The French military earlier this month suspended budgetary aid and military cooperation with the CAR, accusing its government of being "complicit" in an anti-French disinformation campaign backed by Russia.
The CAR has become a key area in the controversy over the role in Africa of the Wagner mercenary group which is allegedly run by the shadowy businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close confidant of President Vladimir Putin.
"In the Central African Republic, there is a form of a seizure of power, and in particular of military power, by Russian mercenaries," Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told BFM TV.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/france-slams-russian-seizure-of-power-in-cafrica/ar-AALbebD
