Central African Republic: Russia's Testing Ground | VPRO Documentary
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Published 2022-07-23
The Central African Republic is the testing ground for Russia's compelling ambition to take African countries into its sphere of influence and turn them against the West. In exchange for raw materials and diplomatic support in the UN Security Council, Russia supplies mercenaries to keep governments in power, education and disinformation with a Moscow perspective.
Journalist Bram Vermeulen meets Wagner's masked mercenaries and their best customer, the president of the Central African Republic. He hears about their gruesome methods of scorched earth, kidnappings and disappearances. He literally engages in a fight with Vladimir Putin's representative in the Central African Republic during a boxing training session with the Russian consul who dismisses all allegations of human rights violations as fake news.
The Russians are waging a disinformation campaign that is riding on a wave of distaste for former colonizer France, who is accused of disinterest in the fate of Africans and racism. This campaign is being carried out on numerous fronts: social media, university lectures and war films in which Russians are the heroes and Westerners the villains.
Journalists who try to combat the disinformation mysteriously die or are threatened.
On the front lines of Cold War 2.0, Bram Vermeulen sees that the West is losing the battle for Africa.
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All Comments (21)
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Reporter is keep trying to push people to say something bad about Russia, but they simply don’t want to.
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Let us choose what is best and proper. You didn't said anything about how French colonized and abused Africa as a continent through out history.
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The people of Central Africa Rep. reserve the right to choose their friends. They have chosen Russia n Rwanda for protection. Period
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@15:30 The president wasn't annoyed by the fact you asked questions about the Russians. He was annoyed because that's the ONLY questions you asked. He said to you "don't you have other questions other than about Russians ? I am no afraid to answer ANY questions but why just about the Russians ?"
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The French still consider African countries as their colonies. Now Africa has a choice and CAR has made its own choice, Russia..... good for them
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France European and USA never let African countries to develop... Eve thought they have huge minarals resources... It's time for African to works with Russian and Chinese
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This the worst colonial journalism I have ever seen ..So France is the savour and Russia the bad guy..yet France has been there for years but with nothing to show
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The french disease has to be uprooted at all cost.France has been the root of all problems in West Africa and it's amazing the way African leaders have woken up and decided to choose new partners who respect them and are ready to walk with them for the benefit of their countries .
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To be honest. Russia has helped to stabilized this country. The problem with French they put geopolitical issues above citizens. Russia first secured the nation and then start geopolitics.
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Blatant slant against Russia which is to be expected from this pseudo-journalist.
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I support the Russians for sure, their presence in the CAR has brought much stability
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Simple, hundreds of years under French dominance and you still poor, I wonder why. Looting, exploiting and enslaving comes to mind.
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Considering the west's track record, including the Dutch, this is hypocracy on a grand scale.
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France turned the CAR into a bloody bandit territory for many years , but Russian forces corrected the situation within one year . The French fled , peace came to the Central African Republic .
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There is a big bias in this documentary. You want to paint Russia in a certain light, suits you but if you really want to understand the RCA reality then listen truly to the people instead of trying to push your narrative.
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Stupid film really, African countries have different countries and government so they can work with any they deemed fit, stop 🛑 that colonial mindset, those days are over deal with it.
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Who is this journalist? Is he from France? Why ask about Russia in Central African Republic? Do a story about France and their atrocities and theft in Africa.
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We know our enemies. And it's not Russia or China. Cry😂😂😂.
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Первая очередь Россия будет строить атомную электростанцию что крайне необходимо для Африки и железную дорогу. Запад не хочет чтобы Африка развивалась, так- как это им не выгодно
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Good job Russia, India is with you but please dont colonise Africa, we need to help them to be a strong an independent nation without western hegemony!
