Russia requires to sign contract with Wagner Group fighters in Central African Republic

After the death of the founder of the Wagner private mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, fighters of the Wagner Group in the Central African Republic (CAR) were required to sign a contract with the Russian Defence Ministry.

CAR President Faustin-Archange Touadera has said in an interview with The Washington Post that upon an agreement with the Russian authorities, about 1,000 PMC fighters will remain in the country to ensure security in a “difficult moment”, officials of the Central African Republic told The Washington Post (WP).

Moreover, the African leader confirmed the visit of Russian Deputy Defence Minister, Col-Gen Yunus-bek Yevkurov to the country.

Faustin-Archange Touadera said that the visit of the Russian deputy defence minister was natural as Moscow and Bangui cooperate in the field of security at the state level.

Meanwhile, confidential sources from the Central African Republic and Western countries said that Yevkurov informed Touadera that the fighters of the Wagner PMC would come under the control of the Defence Ministry. This information was indirectly confirmed by Advisor to the President of the Central African Republic Fidel Gouandjika.

He said that if the fighters refuse to obey the Russian Defence Ministry, then they will have no choice but to leave the country.

According to the newspaper, for a similar purpose, the Russian delegation visited Mali, where the Wagner PMC also operated.