Berengo
Central African forces training in Berengo base
General information
TypeMilitary base
LocationLobaye, Central African Republic
Coordinates4°02′38″N 18°07′21″E / 4.04402°N 18.12262°E / 4.04402; 18.12262
Completed1977

Berengo – is a former palace of emperor Bokassa in the Central African Republic province of Lobaye, currently serving as a base where Russian forces from Wagner Group train Central African soldiers.

History

On 4 December 1977 Berengo palace became official residence of emperor Jean-Bédel Bokassa.[1] There he built an airport, separate residences for himself and his wife, Empress Catherine, individual apartments for his advisors, and lodgings for the ministers.[2] On 20 September 1979 French forces seized Berengo during Operation Barracuda. Following his death Bokassa was buried in Berengo.[3]

On 2 April 2013 around 2,000 Séléka militiamen entered Berengo. They created training center there. In December 2013 all officers and instructors were forced to flee due to Anti-balaka offensive. A few hundred Christian Séléka fighters were left besieged there, with wooden weapons and forced to hunt for food.[4] They were eventually brought to Bangui by Anti-balaka general Alfred Yekatom.[5]

On 24 March 2018 presence of Russian instructors were reported in Berengo, according to satellite photos, they first appeared on 22 January 2018.[6] They started training FACA soldiers in the base.[7] First training was completed on 31 March with 200 soldiers and Presidential Guards.[8] This was done despite the Bokassa's family claiming ownership of the palace.[9]

References

  1. ↑ La Centrafrique et Bokassa: 1965-1979 : force et déclin d'un pouvoir personnel d'Emmanuel Germain, éditions L'Harmattan, 2000 ISBN 9782738499943.
  2. ↑ THE RUINS OF DEAD DESPOTS, 16 June 2015
  3. ↑ BOKASSA, IMPERATORE CANNIBALE
  4. ↑ Centrafrique: dans le palais de Bokassa, l’errance de Séléka chrétiens, 4 March 2014
  5. ↑ ICC-01/14-01/18
  6. ↑ Katz, Brian; Seth G., Jones; Doxsee, Catrina; Harrington, Nicholas. "Moscow's Mercenary Wars: The Expansion of Russian Private Military Companies". Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS). Retrieved 2023-06-12.
  7. ↑ Russian presence in the Central African Republic, 23 April 2018
  8. ↑ Letter dated 23 July 2018 from the Panel of Experts on the Central African Republic extended pursuant to resolution 2399 (2018) addressed to the President of the Security Council
  9. ↑ Russia’s murky business dealings in the Central African Republic, 23 August 2019
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