France has accused Russia of working towards its own interests and not towards that of the country in the Central African Republic, where Russia has sent weapons and 175 trainers, with plans to send more. The Russian presence there is the largest on the continent in decades, and has been defended by Russian officials, citing French “jealousy” over Russia’s role in what has traditionally been a country with close ties to France, and to whom France has sent significant contingents of soldiers through the U.N. peacekeeping mission there.
Source: Russia not helping to stabilize Central African Republic: France