France's Barrot Visits Bangui in First Trip Since 2018 (Video)
Last update: March 15, 2026
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This is the first visit by a French foreign minister in 8 years ..
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Friday March 13, 2026 that Paris and Bangui marked the "full restoration of relations and ties" between the two countries, as he arrived in the Central African Republic on the first visit by a French foreign minister since 2018.
Relations between France and the Central African Republic deteriorated sharply from 2021, when Paris suspended 10 million euros in budget support and halted military co-operation, accusing President Faustin-Archange Touadera's government of complicity in an anti-French disinformation campaign.
Ties worsened further in late 2022, when France withdrew its last troops from the country, and Bangui removed a long-held diplomatic privilege from the French ambassador.
Barrot's trip to Bangui followed the bilateral roadmap signed by President Emmanuel Macron and Touadera on April 17, 2024, which built cooperation between the two countries.
The French minister said the plan had already produced results on the ground and helped strengthen ties between Paris and Bangui.
During the two-day visit, Barrot held talks on ties and co-operation in security, infrastructure and economic development. He also met officials from the UN mission MINUSCA and visited the European Union Training Mission base, signalling renewed French support for the Central African armed forces.
Barrot's visit comes just a week after Central African President Faustin-Archange Touadera travelled to Moscow for talks with Vladimir Putin, where he said Russia had helped the country with fuel access and election security.
