The Central African Republic and Russia are expected to sign an oil-sector agreement in early 2027, with the project set to involve Central African oil company SOPRAF, Africa Intelligence reported on October 27, as Russian and African leaders gather in Moscow for the third Russia–Africa Summit on October 28–29.
The negotiations come ahead of the summit, which provides a platform for discussions on political and economic cooperation between Russia and African countries. The terms of the proposed oil agreement have not been publicly disclosed, and available information does not specify the project's scope, financing arrangements or the respective roles of the two sides.
The proposed deal follows broader efforts by Bangui and Moscow to expand energy cooperation. On September 30, the two countries held the first meeting of their intergovernmental commission in Bangui and signed an energy cooperation roadmap covering 2026–2028.
The parties also signed a joint action plan for cooperation in geology and subsoil use.
Energy cooperation was previously discussed during a meeting between Central African President Faustin-Archange Touadéra and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on March 5. Touadéra asked Russia for assistance in addressing the country's energy challenges, while Putin identified energy, agriculture and infrastructure as areas for closer cooperation.
The proposed oil agreement has yet to be signed, and its terms remain unclear.
