Central African Republic - France Relations
The Central African Republic is at almost the precise center of Africa. There are more than 80 ethnic groups, each with its own language. The precolonial history of the area was marked by successive waves of migration, of which little is known. These migrations are responsible for the complex ethnic and linguistic patterns today. United with Chad in 1906, it formed the Oubangui-Chari-Chad colony. In 1910, it became 1 of the 4 territories of the Federation of French Equatorial Africa, along with Chad, Congo, and Gabon. After World War II, the French Constitution of 1946 inaugurated the first of a series of reforms that led eventually to complete independence for all French territories in western and equatorial Africa. The nation became an autonomous republic within the newly established French Community on December 1, 1958, and acceded to complete independence as the Central Africa Republic on August 13, 1960.
In the decades since the independence of the Central African Republic (CAR), the French have been the dominant foreign force and their military and financial aid continues to be an essential crutch supporting the government of President Francois Bozize. Yet despite France's historic engagement in the CAR and the traditional deference which the CAR's population holds the power of the French government, it is increasingly clear by 2009 that French patience is wearing very thin and may be approaching its limit. Bozize, and indeed most Central Africans, appeared to be blind to clear signals from Paris. President Bozize may still believe himself indispensible to France, but he was wrong.
On a macro level, President Sarkozy had called for a reorientation of French policy vis a vis Africa, away from the post colonial patronage of previous Gaullist governments to a more pragmatic relationship based on French economic interests. The Bozize/Sarkozy meeting of twelve minutes in 2007, and the tongue lashing that accompanied it, was renowned and symptomatic of the frosty relations between the two capitals. According to reliable sources, Sarkozy said: "This is what I/France have done FOR you and this is what you have done TO me/France." The French refer to the meeting as the "icy shower". The follow-on meeting at the Quai was longer and chillier. It is very clear that the days of Valery Giscard D'Estaing calling Emperor Bokassa his "friend and family member" were long gone, even if this fact escaped most Central Africans, especially those in the CAR Government.
The constant frustrations facing French commercial giants such as Total and AREVA were well known. While France used to count on the CAR as a valuable reserve of uranium, it was very clear that the double dealing of the Minister of Mines, among others, in renegotiating contracts is pushing the French beyond even their normally generous limits. Additionally, the obtuse behavior of the CARG in naming Saifee Durbar, a man wanted for fraud in France, as Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs seriously strained relations.
The French military, which had poured surplus material and training into the FACA, the gendarmes and the police for many years, only to see the material fall apart and the training ill used, was deeply frustrated as well. After a French Gendarme was assaulted during the 14 July national day ceremony in 2007 by a member of Bozize's Presidential Guard (GP), all cooperation with the GP was cut off. (Bozize declined to attend the French National Day in 2008.) Furthermore, the French, who in the late 1990's had four military bases in the CAR, by 2009 had 250 soldiers total in the country, based mostly in Bangui. So while the French may still be at the center of Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration efforts and Security Sector Reform, as well as the main contributor of bilateral aid, it was clear that this was more of a historic remnant than a forward moving policy leading to deeper cooperation.
France is the only European country with an embassy in Bangui (where the EU also has a delegation). On the strength of its long-standing, strong relationship with the Central African Republic, France continues to support its elected authorities in their efforts to stabilize and sustainably develop the country. At multilateral level, France has provided its full support to ECCAS and African Union action and is working in the United Nations Security Council.
Within the EU, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the European Commission instigated the creation of the first European development multi-donor fund for emergencies and development, the Bêkou Trust Fund, in July 2014, making it possible to swiftly adopt and implement projects in the sectors of health, food security, urban infrastructure and economic and social recovery. It currently represents €120 million. Lastly, France supports the Central African Republic vis-à-vis international financial institutions (obtaining the completion point of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative in 2009, and an IMF Extended Credit Facility, Peacebuilding Commission, etc.).
The frequency of bilateral visits reflects the intensity of relations between France and the Central African Republic: French President François Hollande visited Bangui on 10 December 2013, on 28 February 2014 and on13 May 2016. The French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Laurent Fabius, visited on 13 October 2013 and 23 January 2014. His successor, Jean-Marc Ayrault, represented France at the inauguration ceremony of Faustin Archange Touadéra, on 30 March 2016. He was accompanied by the Defence Minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, who made five trips to the Central African Republic in 2014 and another on 31 October 2016. President Touadéra visited our France on 19 and 20 April 2016 for a working visit, then again on 20 March and 25 September 2017.
Commercial relations between France and the Central African Republic suffered from the crisis. Trade remains limited and there are few French companies, but France, which has a long-standing presence in many sectors, remains the leading investor in the country. Despite a series of crises and sometimes heavy financial losses, there are now more than 20 French companies present in the Central African Republic in key sectors, such as Air France, Bolloré (logistics and river transport), Castel (drinks and sugar), and Total (storage and distribution of petroleum products). They make a considerable contribution to the national economy.
France granted more than €76 million in civilian assistance to the Central African Republic in 2014-16, in addition to military spending (Sangaris and bilateral support to EU, EUFOR, EUMAM and EUTM operations, as well as the African Union – MISCA – and UN – MINUSCA). In addition to humanitarian assistance and support for the electoral process, particular emphasis has been placed upon aspects of democratic governance via State capacity building in key sectors such as security, the economy, finance, justice, and territorial administration. During the donor conference in Brussels on 17 November 2016, France announced a contribution of €85 million over three years, including €15 million for the “Bêkou” fund, reinforcing its ranking as number-one bilateral donor. France directs its assistance towards support for governance, the fight against economic vulnerabilities, the production of services for populations, including education and health, as well as aid coordination and implementation capacities. More than €38 million has already been committed in 2017.
In order to protect civilians from the cycle of very serious violence, France deployed Operation Sangaris from 5 December 2013, supporting the International Support Mission to the Central African Republic (MISCA). In response to a request from the Central African Republic’s authorities, the French operation (which involved up to 2,000 troops) was carried out under a mandate conferred by UN Security Council resolution 2127. Four French soldiers were killed in action. Sangaris ended on 31 October 2016, but French soldiers are participating in the EU Training Mission (EUTM) and are present within the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).
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