The European Union has suspended its mission to train soldiers in the Central African Republic (CAR) out of fear that it could be linked to violations of international law by Russian mercenaries, the mission said today.
The European Union Training Mission in the CAR (EUTM RCA) says it has advised, educated and trained more than 3.400 CAR forces since 2016 during their struggle to stabilize the country in the face of multiple insurgencies.
Her job is complicated by the presence of hundreds of Russian operatives, many of whom belong to Russia's private military Wagner group, which arrived in 2018 and works in close coordination with the CAR military.
"We would need guarantees that Wagner mercenaries do not engage EUTM-trained soldiers in their operations," said EUTM RCA spokesman. "We don't have an answer right now."
He added that the EUTM will continue to advise CAR forces.
United Nations experts say that members of the Wagner Group in the CAR are committing human rights violations, including random executions, arbitrary detention and torture.
The EU imposed sanctions on Wagner on Monday, accusing the group of conducting covert operations on behalf of the Russian government.
Russian President Vladimir Putin says that Wagner does not represent the Russian state or is paid by it. He also said that private military mercenaries have the right to work anywhere in the world as long as they do not violate Russian law.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Tuesday that EU sanctions are part of "Western hysteria" and that they undermine the independence of African and Middle Eastern countries, the "Moscow Times" reported.
"The hysteria in the West regarding this topic shows, first of all, the jealousy of some European cities and states towards Africa and the Middle East, whose sovereignty and independence they were forced to recognize," the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated.
The European Union was alarmed by reports that Wagner's forces could be deployed in Mali to help the government there in the fight against Islamist militants linked to Al Qaeda and the Islamic State, writes Reuters.
France, the former colonial power in the CAR and Mali, has long-standing military ties throughout Francophone Africa. Analysts see the deployment of Wagner as part of a Russian strategy aimed in part at undermining them, Reuters added.
The United States announced today that they are "alarmed" by the possible deployment of Wagner to Mali. Malian authorities declined to comment specifically on the Wagner reports, saying they have the right to work with any security partner they choose.
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