"Russia has heard the cry of the Central African people"

After 65 years of diplomatic relations, the Central African Republic has been able to return to peace from a "practically non-existent state" with the support of Russia. According to the CAR's ambassador to the Russian Federation, Leon Dodonu-Punagaza, it was Moscow that helped stop the extermination of civilians, rebuild the army and achieve the lifting of the arms embargo. Bangui is now counting on Russian assistance in the development of the electric power industry, including the construction of a small nuclear power plant — this issue is already being discussed with Rosatom. In addition, the Russian Federation could play a key role in improving the republic's agriculture. About how the country went through a difficult period in its history and how Russia can help it now, in an exclusive interview with the CAR ambassador to Izvestia.

"The situation has stabilized precisely thanks to the Russian Federation"

— On December 7, 1960, the USSR and the Central African Republic established diplomatic relations. If you look back on these 65 years, which moments do you consider the most important in the dialogue between our countries?

— Indeed, after the declaration of independence of the Central African Republic, our country, like other African states, signed agreements and established diplomatic relations with the USSR. And every year on December 7, we celebrate this date, because it is a big event.

The results are positive for a simple reason: over the years, a lot of our specialists have been trained in the Soviet Union, and Russia, as its successor, continues to train our staff. Today, training has become more diverse and intensive, including military personnel who are trained at various military academies in Russia.

— Today, the Russian Federation and the Central Asian Republic are often referred to as strategic partners. What threats is Russia helping your country to fight?

— About 15 years ago, the Central African Republic practically turned into a non-existent state. Armed groups were operating everywhere, and the national army was fragmented and destroyed. Under the supervision of the international UN forces, under the supervision of the French military, the Central African people were simply exterminated.

And so Russia heard the cry of the Central African people and intervened. It was thanks to this that calmness returned first, and then peace.

— Can we say now that the situation in the republic has stabilized and that this world is stable?

— Thanks to Russia, yes. The situation has stabilized precisely thanks to the Russian Federation. Russian instructors are helping the Central African army, which they have trained, to ensure security in the country so that the elections take place in a calm atmosphere.

More recently, the last two major armed groups have signed peace agreements with the State. Rebel leaders are usually from Chad and Sudan. The outstretched helping hand of our head of state led to the fact that these leaders of the uprisings returned and joined the peace process. Peace agreements have been signed now, so I honestly don't see a real threat.

"The people were on their own"

— How is military cooperation between Russia and the Central African Republic organized today? What exactly is Moscow doing to strengthen your army?

— I know that there are Russian instructors who help train our military. We have increased the size of the army from about 7,000 troops to almost 30,000 — this is a build-up of power.

Yes, of course, diplomatically too. Russia constantly defends the CAR in the UN Security Council. Let me give you an example: the arms embargo was completely lifted precisely thanks to the efforts of the Russian Federation. This must be acknowledged.

— The rapprochement of the Central African Republic with the Russian Federation causes a nervous reaction in some Western countries. Is your country facing direct or indirect pressure because of this partnership?

— Why do you think that other countries should worry because we have good relations with Russia? Yes, of course, there are such reactions, but the Central African Republic is an independent country. We don't turn off the faucet to anyone, the doors are open to everyone.

Prove that you can actually do something. You don't have to stay on the sidelines and just say no. If any country — France, the United States, or anyone else - thinks it can do something good for us, we are ready to cooperate. But we are interested in real help, not just statements.

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Moscow is also helping the Central African Republic in the development of the diamond industry.

— If we compare the last stage, when the CAR cooperated with France, and the current one, when it cooperates with Russia, which turned out to be more effective?

— As I have already told you, when there was an [armed] conflict, French troops and MINUSCA forces were present in the country — this is the UN mission. Both they, France, and MINUSCA eventually abandoned the people. The people were on their own, the army was ruined.

And when the President, His Excellency Professor Faustin-Arcange Touadera, turned to Russia, Russia came to the rescue — restored calm, and now sustainable peace. And now there is a build-up of the potential of the army, which is already capable of taking its fate into its own hands.

"The country cannot develop without electricity"

— The Central African Republic has significant reserves of gold, diamonds and other resources, but the level of economic development remains modest. In which industries do you see the greatest potential for cooperation between Russian and Central African companies?

— In my humble opinion, in the transport infrastructure and in the field of electricity. Because the country cannot develop without electricity. We need Russia to really help us ensure an adequate level of energy supply. Why not use nuclear energy? We have uranium.

Negotiations are underway with Rosatom. I went there myself to discuss this, and relevant contacts are underway. And you are right to say that our country has natural reserves. I can assure you: Rosgeologiya conducted missions and research with us, and as a result we found 436 geological indicators. This is a huge potential. There is oil, gas, zinc, manganese, and many, many other things.

I believe that if we could get a small nuclear power plant, it would really push the country forward. I discussed this with representatives of Rosatom. They said it would take ten years to build a nuclear power plant.

— Russia supplied grain to the Central African Republic and other African countries for free, and provided fuel assistance. How tangible has this support become and what resources do you particularly need now?

— I am very grateful to President Vladimir Putin for helping the Central African people. Because true friends come to know each other in a difficult moment. President Putin has made a donation of 50,000 tons of grain — wheat — for the Central African Republic. It has helped our people a lot. And last year there were 35 thousand tons of diesel fuel, when the country was really, as they say, grabbed by the throat: it was in a very difficult situation. This is a huge help for the population.

If we talk about needs, I would single out medicine. That would be very important. I remember when I studied at the lyceum, Russian doctors worked there. They were excellent specialists. And to this day, elderly people still remember these doctors with tears.

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By the end of the decade, it may increase to $50 billion.

— You mentioned personnel training. Do you need more places at Russian universities and what are your plans for developing educational and agricultural cooperation?

— Yes, if we could train a lot more doctors and engineers here in Russia, it would raise the level of, say, medicine in our country and make production much more efficient. Because the training of engineers, for example, in our country and in Russia is at a different level.

Discussions are already underway on this topic. Literally immediately after my appointment, I was in Rossotrudnichestvo, where I discussed increasing the number of quotas. They are very low for TSARS. Despite the fact that we have good relations with Russia, the Central African Republic has only 75 quotas (for student education. — Izvestia). While, for example, the Child is given 250. This is strange.

As for agriculture, there have already been missions in Bangui. And I think there will be some concrete results by next year. You know, in the 1970s, our country adhered to the USSR's five-year plan. We took it as a sample and applied it at home, and our country produced a lot (of agricultural products and export crops. — Izvestia). We were about on a par with Ivory Coast.

We are no longer applying this five-year plan. Those Belarusian tractors that we had have long since exhausted their resources and become unusable. We have very fertile lands, and we don't need fertilizers. That is, it is necessary to raise the level of agriculture — to switch from manual to mechanized. And here Russia could play a key role.