Russian Energy Minister Sergey Tsivilev and Central African Republic (CAR) Prime Minister Félix Moloua held talks in Bangui on October 1, underscoring Moscow’s push to cement political and economic influence in Francophone Africa.
The meeting came a day after the inaugural session of the Russian–Central African Joint Economic Commission, which adopted a 2026–2028 energy cooperation roadmap and agreed to set up ten working groups to accelerate joint projects, according to the pro-Russian African Initiative website.
Discussions centered on launching “tangible projects” in energy, infrastructure, agriculture, transport and mining, with modernizing CAR’s power system and expanding electricity access identified as priorities.
Tsivilev affirmed Russia’s readiness to support Bangui in developing energy infrastructure, arguing that reliable power is a crucial driver of living standards and economic growth.
The push unfolds against a stark deficit: only about 18% of CAR’s population has access to electricity, and outages are widespread even in the capital, Bangui. The African Development Bank notes that projects outside Bangui typically must plan for their own power supply from day one, highlighting the scale of the gap Moscow is offering to help address.
Meanwhile, the World Bank estimates that forestry and extractive industries account for more than 90% of CAR’s exports, yet the sector’s contribution to public finances remains low, leaving the economy heavily dependent on natural resources with limited oversight.
The deepening Moscow–Bangui relationship coincides with growing foreign and Russian‑linked interest in CAR’s mining sector. The Russia‑associated Wagner Group has been involved in gold and diamond concessions, including the Ndassima mine, raising concerns over transparency, the treatment of artisanal miners and the distribution of mineral revenues.
By coupling high‑level diplomacy with sectoral roadmaps and working groups, Moscow is positioning itself as a key partner in CAR’s energy and infrastructure development at a time when France’s influence is receding.
