By Jide Adesina | Editor-in-Chief
The delicate security arrangement between the Central African Republic (CAR) and Russia is under renewed strain as Moscow reportedly pushes the government in Bangui to sever ties with the controversial Wagner private military group and instead contract its newly formalized state-run entity, Africa Corps, for all future security operations.
According to senior officials in the Central African Republic, Russia’s Deputy Defense Minister has made multiple visits to Bangui this year, during which he called on CAR’s leadership to formally replace Wagner’s fighters with members of Africa Corps — a paramilitary unit directly linked to the Russian Ministry of Defense. Moscow has also demanded monetary compensation for future services, diverging from Wagner’s long-standing model of being paid in mineral rights and concessions.
But CAR’s government has so far hesitated to comply.
Privately, government insiders admit that Wagner’s presence in the country has been “far more effective” than any alternative offered by Russia’s formal military apparatus. “They understand the terrain, the politics, and they deliver results,” said one senior official familiar with the discussions. “Wagner works with us, not above us.”
Moreover, the government is particularly averse to paying for military services in cash. For years, their arrangement with Wagner has involved exchanging access to lucrative mining concessions — including gold and diamonds — in lieu of direct financial payments. The current Russian demand for cash payments presents a significant shift in diplomatic dynamics and financial expectations.
Wagner’s deep-rooted presence in CAR cannot be overstated. Since entering the country in 2018 under the guise of security cooperation, Wagner operatives have taken over critical protection duties for President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, training local forces and guarding strategic sites. Their efforts culminated in backing Touadéra’s successful constitutional referendum in 2023, a move that effectively opened the door for the president to extend his rule indefinitely. In return, Wagner secured major influence over key mining operations across the country.
However, that chapter appears to be closing. The death of Wagner’s founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, in a plane crash in 2023 marked a turning point for Russia’s geopolitical strategy in Africa. In the months that followed, Moscow began rebranding its foreign military engagements, forming Africa Corps to bring paramilitary operations under state control. The shift is part of a broader Kremlin effort to exert tighter control over mercenary forces previously loyal to Prigozhin.
The transition has already taken shape elsewhere on the continent. Earlier this year, Wagner operatives were quietly withdrawn from Mali and replaced by Africa Corps contingents under the direct supervision of the Russian Defense Ministry.
Yet, in CAR, the situation is far more complicated. Wagner has entrenched itself not only militarily but economically and politically. The private army has cultivated strong relationships with local power brokers, and their presence is intertwined with the political survival of Touadéra’s administration.
Sources within the CAR military warn that replacing Wagner with Africa Corps could create a vacuum or even disrupt the fragile balance of power that currently holds the capital and provinces together. “We are talking about men who’ve fought and died on our soil, side by side with our troops,” said one military commander. “They are not easily replaced by newcomers from Moscow.”
Despite mounting pressure from the Kremlin, CAR’s government appears to be stalling. Officials say no official agreement has been signed with Africa Corps, and Wagner forces remain on the ground — guarding key state institutions, mining sites, and presidential convoys.
Diplomatic observers suggest that Russia’s demand for a cash-based arrangement could also be a strategic test — a way to gauge the Central African government’s autonomy, financial capacity, and loyalty in a post-Prigozhin era. With global attention on Russia’s new footprint in Africa, CAR is being watched as a critical bellwether for Moscow’s broader ambitions across the continent.
As negotiations continue behind closed doors, the future of security cooperation in CAR hangs in the balance. For now, the Wagner fighters remain. But the shadow of Africa Corps is growing longer each day — and with it, the geopolitical chessboard in Central Africa continues to shift.
Jide Adesina is the Editor-in-Chief of 1stafrika.com and a specialist in African political affairs, security, and foreign influence on the continent.
