Sawt Falasteen - Russian paramilitaries in CAR say take election threat 'extremely seriously'

The resource-rich former French colony is the last bastion of paramilitary group Wagner, which has established itself as one of the CAR government's main security partners in exchange for lucrative contracts to mine gold and diamonds.

Alexander Ivanov, head of Russian private contractors in the CAR, agreed to answer AFP's questions on the upcoming elections and current situation in the country.

Ivanov is under EU and US sanctions as the head of the Officers' Union for International Security (OUIS), an entity EU and US officials describe as a Wagner front company in the CAR.

Human rights campaigners have accused Wagner mercenaries of committing rights abuses including torture and killings in several countries, including in the CAR.

Ivanov claims his organisation has no links to Wagner but says the OUIS employs "highly experienced" Wagner fighters. He insisted that his organisation was "not PMC Wagner".

Ivanov said his group worked to ensure the elections on Sunday were conducted in "a peaceful and secure manner".

"Given the experience of previous elections, Russian specialists are taking this task extremely seriously and are preparing to repel any provocations," Ivanov told AFP in written comments received late Monday.

"At the moment, everything points to the possibility of peaceful and safe elections," he said.

"On the other hand, there are still small areas in the CAR -- mainly along the border -- where militants continue to operate, so the Central African defence and security forces, together with Russian military specialists, are on high alert."

On Sunday, the CAR will hold presidential, legislative, regional and local elections, capping a period of relative calm after years of instability and violence. President Faustin-Archange Touadera, 68, is expected to be re-elected.

Deployed at the request of Touadera to strengthen a ramshackle military, Wagner fighters have played a key role in ensuring stability in the strategically-located country.

Wagner was instrumental in 2020 when Touadera was last re-elected in a vote marred by allegations of fraud and an uprising by six rebel groups. The attempt to overthrow the government was pushed back due to the intervention of the Rwandan army and the Russian contractors.

- 'Wish them success' -

Ivanov declined to comment on talks with the Russian defence ministry, which has sought to replace Wagner in Africa following the death of its founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, in 2023.

Russia has put pressure on Bangui to swap the paramilitary fighters for the Africa Corps to coordinate its security operations on the continent.

"I cannot comment on the actions of the Africa Corps, but I would like to wish them success in ensuring peace for all those who need their help," Ivanov said.

He said ties between the two countries were "excellent".

"For the first time in the long history of armed conflict, Central Africans have the opportunity to stop fearing for their lives," Ivanov added.

In addition to training the army, the Russians have been helping disarm rebels, he said.

"Over the past year it has been possible to disarm about 2,000 militants," Ivanov said.

He said the group had received "letters of gratitude" from residents of towns including Batangafo and Boda and requests to help build hospitals or repair bridges.

The West has eyed new windows of opportunity in the CAR after Prigozhin's death. In late 2023, the US private security company Bancroft Global Development said it was in talks with the CAR government.

Ivanov said Russian contractors stand apart because they do not rely "on an abundance of heavy machinery and bureaucratic red tape, as is customary among American military specialists".

"The events of 2020 clearly showed that delay and sluggishness can cost a country dearly in times of crisis."

N.Shalabi--SF-PST