A vibrant new mural has surfaced in the bustling heart of Bangui, casting a long shadow over the upcoming elections.
The artwork captures President Vladimir Putin alongside paramilitary fighters and President Faustin-Archange Touadéra,frozen in a defiant, colorful tableau.
Russian diplomats described the piece as a vivid testament to a “shared victory” over the chaos that long haunted this nation.
As Sunday’s polls approach, the mural serves as a silent, powerful endorsement of the security architecture currently shielding the capital.
The Central African Republic remains a sturdy stronghold for the Wagner Group, even as Moscow pivots toward the newer Africa Corps.
Strategic mining concessions for gold and diamonds continue to fuel this partnership, bypassing the traditional cash-heavy requirements of state-to-state deals.
While human rights groups voice grave concerns over past abuses, the government credits these “Russian specialists” with restoring fragile urban stability.
Critics view the display as a calculated narrative of strength designed to bolster Touadéra’s bid for a controversial third term.
Beneath the fresh paint lies a complex reality of geopolitical survival, where the lines between state defense and private enterprise blur.
For many residents, the mural is less about art and more about the ironclad presence of the men in fatigue.