France confirms that it has frozen its budget support to the Central African Republic and has also suspended its military cooperation. In Paris, the Ministry of Defense invokes an anti-French campaign led by Russia, in which the Central African authorities are said to be involved.
Five cooperatives that have worked specifically with the Ministry of Defense, the youth pioneers and the Prime Minister are affected. They have all left their posts and most are already back in France. These aid workers played a key advisory role to the Central African authorities in the reform of the security sector and the reconstruction of the army.
Bilateral training of the French forces with the Central African Armed Forces is also suspended. They were supplied mainly by French elements from Gabon.
However, France’s decision is not final, as is the case with budgetary cooperation. “If there are positive and strong signals that are taken, things can be reconsidered very quickly,” the French ambassador said on Monday, leaving a meeting with the finance minister.
We are really far from a total withdrawal. France maintains its cooperation in the public security sector with the police, gendarmerie and civil security. About one hundred French soldiers are involved in the training provided by the European Union.
At Bangui Airport, more than 100 French soldiers are present, dedicated to the protection of this strategic location and to Camp Mpoko, which houses parts of the UN mission and the European mission.
Cooperation also continues in the sectors of justice, health and humanitarian issues.
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