Moscow agrees to send military specialists to Republic of Congo to service weapons
26 May 2019 07:15
Islam Times - Moscow is deploying its military specialists to Congo to provide service for Russian-made military hardware and equipment in the sub-Saharan African country.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov made the announcement on Friday, a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Congolese counterpart Denis Sassou Nguesso met in Moscow and signed a contract to deploy Russian military specialists to Congo.
“Much of this hardware can be still used if there is proper maintenance and these people, who are sent there, will service the munitions,” he added.
Russia’s Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin said although the contract was new, it "continues the very beautiful story that was once started called military-technical cooperation.”
He further explained that the Russian advisers will help Congo’s military with the upkeep of armored vehicles, rocket artillery and helicopters.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the specialists were already on the ground there, according to Russian news agency, Interfax.
Moscow has donated hundreds of weapons and sent more than 200 trainers to Central African Republic (CAR) earlier this year.
Earlier in January, the CAR’s Defense Minister Marie-Noelle Koyara said he does not rule out full-fledged Russian military bases on top of an existing training facility.
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