00:00France is making a diplomatic push in Central African Republic, as Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barreau begins a two-day
00:07visit to the capital, Bangui.
00:09It's the first trip by a senior French official in seven years, and signals an effort by France to rebuild
00:16ties with its former colony.
00:18Relations began to warm in April of 2024, after talks between French President Emmanuel Macron and Central African President Frustin
00:27Achange Touadéa.
00:28Barreau is expected to meet Touadéa during the visit, just days after the Central African leader returned from Russia, where
00:36he held talks with Vladimir Putin.
00:38For years, France has seen its influence decline in the mineral-rich nation of about 5.3 million people.
00:45As instability and conflict persisted, Touadéa increasingly turned to Russian support, including fighters linked to the Wagner Group, who have
00:53secured contracts in sectors like gold, diamonds and logging.
00:56The last visit by a French foreign minister was in 2018.
01:01Now Paris says it wants to renew the partnership.
01:04The visit also comes after Touadéa secured another term in a vote that opposition groups claim was fraudulent.
01:10The US year of the new services, the Claude and the British I peace and the British I mean is
01:10from the United States!
01:10The next visit is by the River of the Central and the East.
Comments