Western media say Russia has sent troops to the Central African Republic to support the state-sponsored Russian private military contractors (PMCs) operating there.
A number of Ilyushin-76 cargo planes from Russia, an ally of President Faustin-Archange, landed in the Central African Republic this weekend, the security source and an airport source said.
Observers identified over a dozen Russian military trucks carrying soldiers and two armored personnel carriers at Bangui Airport.
Central African Republic officials agreed Russia sent hundreds of troops into the country following an alleged coup offer ahead of the presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for next week.
“Russia has sent several hundred soldiers and heavy weapons,” said government spokeswoman Ange Maxime Kazagui on Monday as part of a bilateral cooperation agreement.
Russia deploys state-sponsored wagons and regular troops in the Central African Republic to support the official government.
On Saturday, authorities accused former President Francois Bozize of plotting a coup after his candidacy was rejected. United Nations peacekeeping forces also dispersed armed rebel groups occupying streets and cities near Bangui.
According to a security source and two humanitarian sources, fighting took place in several cities on Sunday, including Mbaiki, about 100 km from Bangui.
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