Russian, Syrian Mercenaries Recapture Yalinga Town In Central African Republic

Russian mercenaries and their Syrian backers fighting rebels in the Central African Republic arrived at Yalinga town Thursday night, and are currently occupying it without firing a single shot. 

HumAngle reported  Thursday, April 22, that after recapturing Bria town, Russian mercenaries supported by their Syrian allies headed towards Yalinga to recapture the town as well as Nzako and Bakouma before the end of April. 

They have now achieved their goal of recapturing Yalinga.

Before arriving in the town, rebel fighters of the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC) had already abandoned the town.

“After several hours of combat with the rebels of the CPC in the locality of Manzala, situated 24 kilometres from Bria, and then Kpava, a council situated 72 kilometres on the Yalinga highway, the Russian and Syrian mercenaries of Wagner security arrived Yalinga last night around midnight,” a local source who opted for anonymity told HumAngle.

“While the Russian and Syrian mercenaries now occupy the town, the rebel forces have escaped to neighbouring localities and into the bushes.”

Without being accompanied by forces of the national army, the Russian and their Syrian allies are reported to be preparing for their onward move to Nzako and eventually to Bakouma situated in the prefecture of Mbomou in the southeast of the country.

According to  Vladimir Titorenko, the Russian Ambassador to the Central African Republic, the Russian mercenaries whom he called “Russian instructors,” have been fighting side by side the Central African Republic army.

But during the fighting in several localities including Alindao, Mbres and now Yalinga, only Russian mercenaries and their Syrian allies —and in some cases Libyans took part in combat to the exclusion of the national army, FACA.