When Ephrem Yalike-Ngonzo was first approached in 2019 by a Russian who suggested he help promote the activities of the Central African Republic’s army and Russian forces in the country, the journalist believed that he was doing the right thing.

The Wagner Group’s presence extends from Syria to Africa, projecting the Kremlin’s global influence with mercenaries accused of using brutal force.

The Central African Republic went to the polls Sunday in a highly anticipated vote on a new constitution, which could remove presidential term limits.

The U.N. Security Council has voted to relax the arms embargo against the Central African Republic, a disappointment to its government, which sought a complete lifting of the ban on the sale or transfer of weapons and ammunition.

Russia has engaged in under-the-radar military operations in at least half a dozen countries in Africa in the last five years using a shadowy mercenary force analysts say is loyal to President Vladimir Putin.

France has suspended military operations with Central African Republic, accusing its government of failing to respect political opposition and failing to stop an anti-French disinformation campaign.

Central Africa Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadra sits during his inaugural ceremony in Bangui Tuesday March 30, 2021. Touadera is being sworn in for a second term amid mounting threats to his presidency. (AP Photo/Adrienne Surprenant)BANGUI – President Faustin Archange Touadera was sworn in for a second term Tuesday in Central African Republic as he faces a growing threat from an armed rebellion linked to the country's former strongman Francois Bozize. Touadera, who won the December election with about 53% of the vote, vowed “zero impunity for the perpetrators of crimes” during his second term. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said earlier this year that Central African Republic is now at “a critical juncture."

An 80-years-old woman who requested to remain anonymous sits in her makeshifts shelter in the village of Cesacoba, Central African Republic, Sunday Feb. 14, 2021. Along the main supply road from Cameroon to Bangui, Central African Republic’s capital, and in Bambari and Bossangoa, the government forces and its Rwandan and Russian allies have led drives against the rebel forces in the past two weeks. Central African Republic’s instability erupted into fighting in Bangui in 2013 when the Seleka rebels coming from the north seized power from then-President Francois Bozize. Fighting spiraled, with targeted attacks that left thousands dead in the capital and displaced hundreds of thousands more. Residents of Central African Republic are discouraged by the country’s years of violence and insecurity.

The men both pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The trial is the first at the global court that focuses on the violence that erupted after the Seleka seized power in the Central African Republic in 2013, forcing President Francois Bozize into exile. Ad“A justice void has fueled repeated violence in the Central African Republic, with a new wave of attacks in just the past two months. The Central African Republic government asked the ICC in May 2014 to investigate crimes allegedly committed by both the Seleka and the anti-Balaka. Last month, the first alleged Seleka rebel arrested on an ICC warrant was handed to the court.

President Faustin-Archange Touadera speaks to the media after casting his vote at the Lycee Boganda polling station in the capital Bangui, Central African Republic, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020. (AP Photo)BANGUI – Central African Republic's constitutional court on Monday upheld President Faustin Archange Touadera’s re-election, raising the specter of more violence days after rebels attempted to overtake the capital. Political opposition parties had urged the court to order a re-run of the Dec. 27 voting, saying insecurity and alleged irregularities had marred the election. Former president Francois Bozize and his allies have been blamed for inciting the violence, which erupted after the constitutional court rejected his candidacy in December. The mineral-rich Central African Republic has faced deadly inter-communal fighting since 2013, when predominantly Muslim Seleka rebels seized power from Bozize after long claiming marginalization.

President Faustin-Archange Touadera speaks to the media after casting his vote at the Lycee Boganda polling station in the capital Bangui, Central African Republic, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020. “Early this morning, the criminals, the rebels and enemies of the people of Central African Republic, the mercenaries and terrorists, including the Central Africans who lead them, they launched the assault in the Begoua sector. U.N. forces in Central African Republic, known as MINUSCA, and other allied forces engaged as well, he said. The U.N. mission in Central African Republic, known as MINUSCA, condemned the attacks on the capital city. The mineral-rich Central African Republic has faced deadly inter-religious and inter-communal fighting since 2013, when predominantly Muslim Seleka rebels seized power from Bozize after long claiming marginalization.

President Faustin-Archange Touadera, center, speaks to the media after casting his vote at the Lyce Boganda polling station in the capital Bangui, Central African Republic Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020. Voting has begun in Central African Republic's presidential and legislative elections after a campaign period marked by violence between rebels and government forces. (AP Photo)BANGUI – Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadera has won a second term in office, according to provisional results from the country’s electoral commission Monday. Touadera was reelected in the first round of the presidential vote on Dec. 27 with 53.9% of the votes, the National Election Authority said. Its president Mathias Morouba said that Touadera won an absolute majority.

People cast their votes for presidential and legislative elections, at the Lycee Boganda polling station in the capital Bangui, Central African Republic Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020. (AP Photo)BANGUI – Central African Republic held presidential and legislative elections Sunday amid fears of violence after a campaign period marked by fighting between rebels and government forces. Catherine Samba-Panza, who was Central African Republic’s transitional president from 2014 to 2016 voted. However, in other parts of Central African Republic, violence kept voters from the polls. The mineral-rich Central African Republic has faced deadly inter-religious and inter-communal fighting since 2013, when predominantly Muslim Seleka rebels seized power from Bozize after long claiming marginalization.