RUSSIALINK: “Russia has trained over 1,000 troops in CAR, more instructors to go there – Foreign Ministry” – Interfax

MOSCOW. Oct 22 (Interfax) – Moscow is planning to send an additional 60 Russian military instructors to the Central African Republic (CAR), and more than 1,000 CAR troops have already completed training, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on its website.

“Over 1,000 Central African servicemen have been trained to date. We intend to continue to provide Bangui the assistance necessary to restore its national armed forces. The relevant UNSC committee has been notified that we are planning to send an additional 60 Russian instructors and a second batch of military products to the CAR,” the ministry said.

“In view of the critical situation in the CAR,” the country’s president asked Russia to help strengthen the national armed forces and security agencies, and Russia decided to send military-technical aid free of charge, it said.

“With the consent of the UNSC Committee [established pursuant to Resolution] 2127 concerning the CAR, in late January and early February of this year, the Russian Defense Ministry sent the CAR military a batch of small arms and munitions and 175 Russian instructors to train CAR personnel,” the statement said.