By RFPosted on 03-11-2018Modified on 03-11-2018 at 23:50

In Central Africa, the Bokassa family celebrated this Saturday, November 3, the 22nd anniversary of the death of the emperor. The family meets every year on this date in the Berengo property, but this year it will be only a short ceremony on the spot that is allowed them, because Berengo has become a military training camp. Reportage.

It is a short and sober ceremony. The Bokassa family laid a wreath on their parent's grave. The residence of Berengo formerly Bokassa Palace is now occupied by many military tents. A temporary occupation according to the mayor of the municipality Roger Oquapenguia.

" Berengo is not permanently occupied by the state. No. The state, the Ministry of Housing has issued a decree for the construction of a military base next to Berengo. It's 41 hectares. The Central African government must set to work to build a military base. And the Bokassa estate, once the work is finished, will come back to the Bokassa family ".

For Jean-Serge Bokassa one of the son of the emperor, former minister of President Touadéra, it is difficult to accept this situation.

" That's what I thought I said at the beginning of my remarks is that we are invited home. Now the requisition has been imposed on us without our knowledge. So my frustration and that of my family does not take place because these Russians are present, but it is rather the desacralization, it is rather the profanation of this place. It is the confiscation of these places. I do not see why the grave of our deceased father and all the cemeteries and burials therein are barred from access. That's very, very bad, "says Jean-Serge Bokassa.

Very quickly you have to leave. Can not stay on the property. The family meets outside to commemorate Emperor Bokassa.

The Bokassa family for a short ceremony in Berengo turned into a military training camp [Reportage]

03-11-2018 - By Charlotte Cosset

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