Despite recent reports of a mutiny by the Wagner Group, a private military contractor, Russian advisers will continue to work with the forces of the Central African Republic (CAR). This was affirmed in a statement from the Kremlin on Wednesday. The CAR has had close ties with the Kremlin in recent years and hundreds of Russian specialists, including many from Wagner Group, have been providing assistance to the government in fighting rebel uprisings since 2018. This is due in part to the upcoming Russia-Africa Summit in St Petersburg this July, which President Faustin-Archange Touadera is scheduled to attend.

The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, reassured that Wagner’s operations in CAR “as instructors … will continue” and that the weekend’s events would not impact relations between Moscow and its partners and allies. Presidential advisor Fidèle Gouandjika also told the a French news agency that there was a “defence deal with Russia and not Wagner”, and that if Russia did not agree with continued involvement of the Wagner Group, a new contingent would be sent instead. So far, the Wagner Group has been accused of human rights abuses in CAR, Burkina Faso and Mali, leading to questions as to whether or not they can still be seen as a stabilizing force.

Michael Mulroy, a former senior Pentagon official, expressed his concern to the Reuters news agency, saying “they will be seen as too unstable and potentially a threat to the leadership in those countries.” Despite the Kremlin’s assurance that the Wagner Group’s involvement in CAR will continue, it is still uncertain as to what impact their actions will have on the region and the people of CAR. It is important that the Kremlin and the governments of CAR, Burkina Faso and Mali ensure that the Wagner Group acts within international law and follows guidelines for the protection of human rights during their operations. Their actions so far have only brought uncertainty to the region and the people of CAR, and it is essential that this trend does not continue.