Protesters in Central African Republic support Russia's operation in Ukraine

People of Central African Republic yesterday (Saturday) took to the street in the capital, Bangui in a demonstration to support Russia's military operation in Ukraine.

The demonstrators gathered at the foot of a statue, inaugurated in late 2021 by President Faustin Archange Touadéra, representing Russian fighters protecting a woman and her children. Many waved Russian and Central African flags in the heart of the capital, near the university, AFP has reported.

Faced with a threatening rebellion more than a year ago, President Touadéra called on Moscow to rescue his impoverished and poorly trained army, and hundreds of Russian paramilitaries were added to the many others who had been present for three years.

The demonstrators held up signs proclaiming "Russia saves Donbass", in reference to this pro-Russian separatist territory in eastern Ukraine, or "Russia and Central Africa against Nazism" and "It's Nato's fault"

"We are here to give our unwavering support to Russia in this war. I think it was imposed by the West on Russia," Blaise-Didacien Kossimatchi, a member of the National Galaxie platform, one of the associations organizing the demonstration and which regularly vilifies France, a former colonial power, and the UN, told AFP. "Nato wanted to install its military base in Ukraine to attack Russia," he continued.

Galaxie Nationale had organized a previous demonstration in support of Russia, which brought together about 100 people on February 23 in Bangui.

"We have come to support Russia, which has come to bring peace to our country," said Brice Plegba, while waving Russian and Central African flags.