BANGUI, Central African Republic—France’s Foreign Minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, has arrived in the Central African Republic (CAR) for a two-day visit, marking the first trip by a senior French official to the former colony in seven years.
The visit to the capital, Bangui, signals a concerted effort by Paris to rebuild diplomatic influence in a region where it has faced a significant decline in recent years. Relations between the two nations began to thaw in April 2024 following high-level talks between French President Emmanuel Macron and his Central African counterpart, Faustin-Archange Touadéra.
A Pivot Toward Russia
Mr. Barrot is expected to meet President Touadéra just days after the Central African leader returned from a trip to Moscow for talks with Vladimir Putin.
For years, the mineral-rich nation of 5.3 million people has increasingly turned toward Russian security support. Fighters linked to the Wagner Group have been a visible presence in the country, securing lucrative contracts in gold, diamonds, and logging in exchange for supporting the government against various rebel groups.
The last time a French foreign minister visited Bangui was in 2018, during the height of the country’s civil war. Since then, the vacuum left by a withdrawing French military presence has been largely filled by Russian interests.
Renewing the Partnership
Paris now says it wants to “renew the partnership” with the CAR. However, the diplomatic overture comes amid domestic controversy. President Touadéra recently secured another term in office with 78% of the vote in a December election—a result that opposition groups have dismissed as fraudulent.
As France attempts to re-engage, observers say the challenge will be competing with Russia’s entrenched security and economic footprint while navigating the CAR’s complex political landscape.
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