The Central African Republic’s prime minister Henri-Marie Dondra has been sacked, the presidency confirmed on February 7, against the backdrop of tensions between pro-Russian and pro-French factions within the government of the country.
Dondra, who emerged as Prime Minister in June 2021 shortly after Paris froze budgetary aid to Bangui, was sacked for allegedly describing it as ‘complicity’.
It is believed that the sacked Prime Minister was more of ‘Pro-French’ compared with his predecessor Firmin Ngrebada, who was perceived to have an allegiance for Russia
The Prime Minister was replaced with the Country’s Economic Minister Felix Moloua. Moloua, who is a strong loyalist to President Faustin-Archange Touadera. He was sworn-in on Wednesday February 9.
A civil war broke out in 2013, pitting myriad mercenaries against a state on the verge of collapse, leaving thousands of people dead and forcing more than a quarter of the population of 4.9 million to flee their homes.
The fighting had lessened considerably in recent years, but it resumed abruptly when rebels launched their failed offensive to overthrow Touadera.
The UN accused both sides in the fighting of human rights abuses. Last week the EU said it would resume a suspended military training mission in the CAR if the country’s soldiers stopped working for Wagner.