Musings From Abroad

Congo DR: Wagner founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, accuses France of attempted assassination of Russian official, Dmitry Syty

Published

2 years ago

December 16, 2022

The back and forth between world powers and influence in African countries took a new phase as France has been accused of attempting to assassinate the head of a Russian representative office in the Central African Republic.

The head of a Russian private militia accused its European counterpart of the assault on Dmitry Syty who was seriously injured on Friday after opening a mail bomb.

According to the Russian RIA Novosti news agency, the Russian Embassy, Syty, who is head of the “Russian House”, was taken to a hospital in the capital Bangui and by late afternoon his condition was serious but stable.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of Russian mercenary, the Wagner Group, blamed France for the attack.

The Wagner Group has supported Central African Republic’s (CAR) army since 2018 but gained wider attention with its role in Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, French Foreign Minister, Catherine Colonna during a told journalists a trip to Morocco said the claims were false.

“It’s even a good example of Russian propaganda and the fanciful imagination that sometimes characterises this propaganda,” Colonna said.

Russian Foreign Ministry said the act aimed to “harm the successful development of friendly relations” between Russia and CAR.

Paris and its European allies pulled thousands of troops countering Islamist militants in Mali earlier this year as relations deteriorated with the military junta after it agreed with a deal with Wagner.

Wagner’s relationship with Africa has also been condemned by other international bodies. The EU and the US have both also condemned Mali’s alleged use of Russian-based mercenaries the (Wagner Group) to fight terrorists and alleged attacks on civilians.

Related Topics:Congo DR Dmitry Syty Featured WAGNER GROUP Yevgeny Prigozhin

Click to comment

Musings From Abroad

Brazilian meatpacker JBS invests $2.5 billion in Nigeria, builds six facilities

Published

2 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Brazilian meatpacker JBS says it has inked a memorandum of understanding with the Nigerian government for a $2.5 billion investment plan that will include the construction of six new plants in the African nation.

Three of the plants would deal in poultry, two in beef, and one in pork, according to a statement from JBS.

In accordance with the memorandum of understanding, JBS stated that it would develop a five-year investment plan in Nigeria, which would include budget estimates, feasibility studies, and an action plan for the development of the local supply chain.

The Nigerian government would then guarantee the sanitary, regulatory, and economic conditions required for the project’s viability, JBS continued.

Musings From Abroad

China’s Xi meets with Morocco’s Crown Prince

Published

2 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Morocco’s official media reports that Chinese President, Xi Jinping, visited Morocco briefly on Thursday.

According to Morocco’s MAP, Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan welcomed Xi in Casablanca. The visit demonstrated the close ties of camaraderie, collaboration, and solidarity between the Moroccan and Chinese peoples, it said.

China’s official broadcaster, CCTV, said that Xi and Hassan had a “cordial conversation” at the airport after being received by the Crown Prince and Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch.

After attending the G20 Summit in Brazil, Xi paid the visit.

In recent years, China has increased its investments in Morocco’s rail and infrastructure. Morocco is desirable for Chinese electric car battery manufacturers because of its proximity to Europe, free trade agreements with important EU and US markets, and an established automotive sector.

Morocco was chosen by Chinese EV battery company Gotion High Tech in June to establish Africa’s first gigafactory, which will cost $1.3 billion in total.