The Central African Republic (C.A.R.) is considering hosting a Russian military base, state-run RIA news agency reports, quoting the African country’s president.
The report comes following the first Russia-Africa Summit held in the Russian city of Sochi and attended by more than 40 African leaders, including C.A.R.’s President Francois Faustin-Archange Touadera.
President Touadera is reported to have said on Friday that his country may host a Russian military base, and would like Moscow to supply it with new weapons.
“We are continuing to work on this question with the national [CAR] defence ministry and the Russian ministry of defence, in order to study the possibilities,” RIA quotes President Touadéra.
The Russia-Africa Summit was attended by more than 3,000 delegates from across Russia and Africa, with many cooperation deals signed between various countries.
Russia does not have a military base in Africa, but may establish one in the future as it seeks to expand its influence in the region.
The Russia-Africa Summit was seen as a move by Kremlin to bolster ties with Africa as it seeks to become a more conspicuous force in the continent.
