Russia in African defence pact after triple killing

MOSCOW and the Central African Republic signed a military cooperation agreement yesterday, less than a month after three Russian journalists were killed in the strife-torn country while probing alleged Russian mercenaries.

Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s defence minister, and his counterpart Marie-noelle Koyara signed the deal to “strengthen ties in the defence sphere”.

Alexander Fomin, Russian deputy defence minister, later said the pact was a “framework agreement” about general avenues of cooperation. “Exchange of delegations, education, mutual visits and so forth,” he said.

The agreement will deepen Moscow’s involvement in the impoverished Central African Republic that is seeking to boost its armed forces in the fight against militias which control most of the country.

Since a UN arms embargo was lifted last year, Moscow has sent instructors and equipment and now provides security for Faustin-archange Touadera, the president.

The deal follows the murder of the three journalists, who were ambushed while investigating a Russian mercenary group called Wagner and its possible relation to both government and rebel forces. The investigation was funded by Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the former oil tycoon and Kremlin critic.