In their pursuit of lasting stability in Central Africa, the Central African Republic (CAR) and Gabon are joining forces. The two countries formally signed a military cooperation agreement, marking a significant milestone.

Last Saturday, July 1, the Gabonese Minister of Defense, Félicité Ongouori Ngoubili, and the CAR Minister of Defense, Rameaux Claude Bireau, signed a new military cooperation agreement in Libreville, Gabon. The event took place during the 23rd Ordinary Session of the Conference of Heads of State and Government of the ECCAS.

The Presidency of the Central African Republic announced this development, highlighting the presence of Faustin-Archange Touadera, CAR’s President, and Ali Bongo Ondimba, his Gabonese counterpart.

According to the statement, the agreement covers various areas, including education, military training and instruction, military health, military exercises, communication and information systems, as well as the role of women in conflict prevention and peacebuilding. The objective is to bolster the capabilities of the armed forces of both countries and promote close cooperation in regional security.

The CAR's Presidency added that the deal is part of the country’s diplomatic efforts, under Touadéra, to stabilize the country amid threats from armed groups. These efforts involve countries like the Russian Federation and Rwanda.

Since it became independent in 1960, the Central African Republic has struggled to find an ideal solution to deal with armed groups that have been troubling the country’s peace.

The new agreement, however; paves the way for enhanced South-South collaboration in a global context marked by political and military tensions. It is worth noting that since September 2021, the Gabonese contingent of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) was called off from CAR following allegations of exploitation and sexual abuse. Before that, Gabonese troops had been present in the country for over 25 years, uninterrupted.

Siamlo Victoria Sedji