A senior member of the Russian diplomatic mission in the Central African Republic (CAR) has been hospitalized after a parcel bomb explosion, Moscow’s embassy in Bangui confirmed to Russian media.
The official was identified as Dmitry Sytyy, who heads the local branch of the “Russian House”, a network of cultural centers under the Foreign Ministry.
The news was first broken by a Russian officers’ organization, which claims to provide military training to government forces in the African nation.
It said the parcel bomb went off in Sytyy’s hands, and he was taken to hospital following the incident, which it described as a terrorist attack. The group claimed Sytyy received threats against his him and his family over Russia’s ties with the government of CAR.
The embassy said the incident occurred outside of the Russian diplomatic compound, at the diplomat’s home. Sytyy’s condition was described as non-life-threatening, although he apparently suffered from concussion.
The nation has been suffering from turbulence for years. The Russian embassy has advised citizens against visiting the country, including the capital, since 2020. Moscow has reportedly helped the CAR government secure the services of private Russian military instructors.
Source: RT
