Wagner clashes with rebels opposed to CAR regime in power

The private military company Wagner has since Monday been tangled in fierce fighting in the village of Kéngué, in the sub-prefecture of Mingala, with Coalition des Patriotes pour le Changement [Coalition of Patriots for Change] (CPC), a rebel group opposed to the regime of Faustin Archange Touadera, local media ‘Corbeau News’ reports.

The fighting has forced local populations to flee into the bush. The Russian mercenaries backed by Central African Republic armed forces, pounded the rebel positions in the village and managed to take control of the area.

Touadera, in power since 2016 has been facing rebels backed by former President François Bozizé ousted from power in 2013 amid a civil war. To prop up his power, Touadera turned to Moscow-backed Wagner in 2018. The company was recruited to supply instructors to train the country’s armed forces.

At 1,000 Wagner mercenaries are reportedly present in the African country which has slid into chaos since 2013.