Central African Republic - Foreign Relations
The C.A.R.'s relations with France, the country's former colonial power, were close but occasionally strained. The French had provided most of the C.A.R.'s foreign aid and assumed many of the security services for the country. France's military intervention during the 1996 mutinies, however, resulted in resentment as French troops were perceived to be protecting President Patasse. France withdrew most of its C.A.R.-based troops by April 1998, but advisors remain.
As of 2010, 90 percent of the uranium deposits in Bakouma were owned by Uramin, a private corporation in which Areva, the French nuclear giant, is 100 percent shareholder. The impact of this set up is exacerbated by the fact that 75 percent of France's energy is derived from nuclear sources, giving Areva and France significant financial interest in what happens in the CAR.
The Chinese have steadily increased their visibility and influence in the CAR, a country rich in untapped natural resources. With French investments moribund and French influence in general decline, the Chinese are likely positioning themselves as the CAR's primary benefactor in exchange for access to the CAR's ample deposits of uranium, gold, iron, diamonds, and possibly oil. Although Chinese aid and investment was unlikely to come with troublesome caveats regarding democratic practices and economic transparency, they are apparently interested in promoting the pacification of troubled areas in northern CAR in order to protect their own interests and personnel.
The C.A.R. shares borders with several of Africa's most unstable countries: Sudan, Chad, the DROC, and the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville). It hosts refugees from Chad, Sudan, Rwanda, and the DROC. The C.A.R.'s relations with its neighbors are generally cordial, but have at times been strained by spillover fighting and refugee-influx from these countries. Sudan has accused the C.A.R. of allowing Sudanese rebels to use its territory as a conduit for arms supplies. There was a border dispute with Chad beginning in 1960, but in late 1994 the two countries established a bilateral security structure to ensure mutual border security. The C.A.R. and the DROC have also held discussions on cross-border issues.
Cameroon, Chad, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt, France, Gabon, Germany, Embassy of the Holy See (Vatican), Iraq, Japan, Libya, Nigeria, Romania, Russia, Sudan, and Zaire maintain diplomatic presence in the C.A.R.
The Central African Republic is an active member in several Central African organizations, including the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC), the Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC), and the Central Bank of Central African States (BEAC). Standardization of tax, customs, and security arrangements between the Central African states is a major foreign policy objective of the C.A.R. Government. The C.A.R. is a participant in the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD) and the African Union. China, Libya, and, to a lesser degree, Turkey and Sudan have shown increased interest in cooperation with the C.A.R. over the last years.
Invited to Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea, on 30 July 2016 to attend an Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa, President Faustin Archange Touadera secured the headquarters of This institution in his country. The main focus of the meeting was the state of negotiations of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the European Union and Central Africa.
Outside of Africa, the C.A.R. maintains fairly close ties to France, albeit considerably reduced from previous years. In the late 1990s, France withdrew the majority of forces stationed in the C.A.R.; drops in its external assistance budget have reduced French military and social development aid to the country. Other multilateral organizations--including the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, UN agencies, European Union, and the African Development Bank--and bilateral donors--including Germany, Japan, the European Union, China, and the United States--are significant development partners for the C.A.R.
Fourteen countries have resident diplomatic representatives in Bangui, and the C.A.R. maintains approximately the same number of missions abroad. Approximately double this number of countries have honorary consuls present in Bangui. Many large countries cover the C.A.R. from neighboring states like Chad, Cameroon, or the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Since early 1989 the government recognizes both Israel and the Palestinian state. The C.A.R. also maintains diplomatic relations with China. The C.A.R. generally joins other African and developing country states in consensus positions on major policy issues.
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