Central African Republic: Questions mount over Russian fuel donation

A political storm is brewing in the Central African Republic over 30,000 tons of Russian diesel that seems to have vanished into thin air. The Republican Bloc for the Defense of the Constitution has thrown down the gauntlet, demanding answers about a fuel donation that exists more in whispers than in official ledgers.

Martin Ziguélé, the sharp-tongued MLPC president, points to glaring inconsistencies. The donation, made months before the budget’s adoption, remains conspicuously absent from national accounts. More puzzling still, SOCAPS lacks the infrastructure to store such vast quantities, leading to speculation about secret sales in neighboring Cameroon.

Behind the scenes, well-placed sources paint a more complex picture. What Moscow presents as humanitarian aid may be part of an intricate chess game. Reports suggest the fuel, sold at inflated prices through a Cameroonian shell company, serves dual purposes: powering Russian mining operations while generating undisclosed revenue streams.

This controversy echoes a familiar pattern, reminiscent of the mysterious case of 50,000 tons of Russian grain whose proceeds vanished without a trace. Moscow’s “donation” label appears increasingly like a smokescreen, masking deeper commercial and strategic interests.

As 2024 unfolds, the government maintains its silence. No official figures, no management details, just mounting questions about a gift that seems more mirage than miracle. Meanwhile, the nation continues to shoulder high-interest debt, even as potential relief sits tangled in a web of international intrigue.