Русский
The President of the Central African Republic (CAR), Faustin-Archange Touadera, has met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow to discuss bilateral cooperation, including security, economic ties, and humanitarian issues.
During the talks on Thursday (March 5), Touadera thanked Russia for its support during what he described as a “difficult” and “decisive” period for the country, noting that Russian assistance had helped ensure security during the December elections, allowing citizens to vote and choose their president. The CAR leader also expressed gratitude for grain supplies that had helped stabilize flour availability in the country.
Touadera said the sides would discuss further cooperation in energy, hydrocarbons, and agriculture, noting that the country currently faces significant challenges in its energy sector and financial system.
Putin highlighted prospects for humanitarian cooperation, thanking the CAR leadership for supporting Russian language and education initiatives. He also noted that Russia has decided to increase the quota for students from the African state.
Touadera arrived in Moscow on a working visit on Wednesday. He has visited Russia several times in the past and has met regularly with Putin. Their most recent in-person meeting was in January 2025, coinciding with the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
The visit marks Touadera’s first trip to Russia since his re-election in December. He secured a third term after winning 77.90% of the vote in the first round. This month also marks a decade since he first took office, having been sworn in on March 30, 2016.
In February, CAR’s ambassador to Russia, Leon Dodonou-Pounagaza, said that Touadera was to discuss several issues, including the possible construction of a small nuclear power plant. He also said Bangui is interested in exporting coffee, peanuts, cocoa, and fruit to Russia. On March 5, the two sides signed an agreement establishing the Intergovernmental Russian-Central African Republic Commission for Trade, Economic, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation. That was signed by Russian Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov and CAR Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sylvie Notefa Baipo Temon.
Reshetnikov noted, “We consider creating conditions for increasing trade volumes and diversifying it as a key task in the near future. We see great prospects for cooperation in the agro-industrial complex and mining”.
Diplomatic relations between Russia and CAR were established in 1992, while the Soviet Union first established ties with the African nation in 1960. Since then, cooperation has expanded to include political and military engagement. Although relatively small, trade turnover between the two countries has increased nearly eightfold over the past year, reaching about US$30 million in 2025.
Russia established a Russia House in Bangui last year.
Russian businesses have also begun exports of poultry as well as providing animal husbandry assistance to help improve food stock health. The partnership is centered on security, with Russia being a major supplier of arms and security personnel to the CAR. Russia primarily exports machinery, vehicles, food, and fuel to the CAR, while imports include an increasing diamond finishing trade, in addition to imports of various raw materials.
