The ruling United Hearts Movement (MCU) of Central African President Faustin-Archange Touadéra has formalized a cooperation agreement with United Russia, the political party of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The agreement, signed remotely on Monday, marks a deepening of the strategic partnership between Bangui and Moscow, following President Touadéra’s recent three-day official visit to Russia.
Representing United Russia was Andrei Klimov, a senior party member and Russian senator under Western sanctions for supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. On the Central African side, Simplice Mathieu Sarandji, president of the National Assembly and executive secretary of the MCU, signed the agreement in Bangui. Sarandji, a close ally of President Touadéra, donned a ceremonial scarf featuring the president’s image during the signing.
Russian dignitaries present at the event included Ambassador Alexandre Bikantov, Consul Vladislav Ilin, and Dimitri Sityi, director of the Russian House in Bangui. Sityi, reportedly linked to Wagner Group operations in the region, oversees Russia’s economic and informational activities in the Central African Republic.
The Russian Embassy described the agreement as opening “new horizons” for cooperation, with plans for joint projects and legislative exchanges.
The timing is noteworthy, coming after Touadéra’s Moscow visit and as his supporters prepare for presidential elections set for the end of the year. However, the agreement has sparked concerns from critics. Opposition leader Crépin Mboli-Goumba criticized the move, alleging that the MCU seeks to emulate United Russia’s authoritarian structure by intertwining with state institutions and suppressing dissent.
This development underscores the deepening ties between the Central African Republic and Russia, raising questions about its potential impact on the nation’s political dynamics and sovereignty.
