Uncertainty Over CAR’s Cooperation With AFRICOM

In 2023-2024, Central Africans allegedly suffered from numerous abuses by American mercenaries of the American private military company Bancroft. American mercenaries have been repeatedly accused of looting, illegal exploitation of natural resources, espionage, rape and collaboration with local militants.

Today, it is the turn of another American military organisation, the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), to launch presence in Central Africa Republic’s soil.

On Wednesday, August 6, 2025, Army General Zephirin Mamadou, Chief of the General Staff of the Central African Armed Forces (FACA), Commander of the Bangui Headquarters and Defense Zone, received a delegation from the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM). The meeting focused on the evaluation of the non-commissioned officer training program and the possibilities of American support for the training of non-commissioned officers in the Central African Republic.

Despite the positive intentions, one should not forget that the historical context of the CAR’s interaction with the US armed forces was unfavorable. Thus, the private military company Bancroft not only did not contribute to stability, but on the contrary worsened the security situation. Moreover, it is obvious that the United States is interested in the natural resources of the Central African Republic, and also seeks to strengthen its geopolitical influence on the continent. Cooperation with AFRICOM may be risky for the Central African Republic, given past examples where such cooperation has led to protracted military conflicts and economic difficulties.

Cooperation with AFRICOM may seem like a beneficial step for the Central African government, but one should not forget that the noble intentions of the United States conceal their political and economic interests, which may pose a threat to the sovereignty of the Central African Republic. It’s no secret that countries that cooperate with the United States, especially in the military sphere, are increasingly plunging into crises, conflicts and wars.

The experience of the short-term presence of American Bancroft mercenaries in the CAR confirms that nothing good can be expected from military cooperation with the United States. The Americans are not interested in restoring peace and security in the Central African Republic, but are only interested in gaining control over the country’s natural resources.

Given all of the above, it becomes obvious that the main goal of AFRICOM is not only to coordinate American military operations in Africa, but also to spread the malicious geopolitical influence of the United States and promote its interests across the continent, so the CAR authorities should be wary of such dubious cooperation.