Equatorial Guinea accuses France of trying to undermine the security of the country
Entrance to Bata International Airport in Equatorial Guinea.
(Illustrative image) © Wikimedia common / UNED Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
The French army denies and speaks of false information.
These accusations come as Vice-President Teodorin Obiang Nguema, son of the incumbent president, was condemned definitively, this Wednesday, July 28, 2021, by the French justice in a case of ill-gotten gains for having laundered nearly 150 million dollars. euros in France.
Publicity
Read more
This Wednesday afternoon
, a light helicopter of the French army of the Fennec type landed in Bata, the second city of Equatorial Guinea.
The authorities decide to immobilize the aircraft and the six French soldiers on board are arrested.
The case is quickly publicized.
The chief of staff of the Air Force of Equatorial Guinea even speaks on television: “
They claim to have an annual authorization to land
in Bata
, but after verifications, the registration of the aircraft. device does not match. This is a serious breach of the rules of aviation. We can say that it is an attack on the security of the state, because it is a military apparatus
. "
But if the helicopter landed, it was simply because it ran out of fuel during a mission between Douala and Libreville, according to Colonel Pascal Ianni, spokesperson for the Chief of Staff of the French armies: “
This information is completely unfounded, since it was a logistical mission. The helicopter is not armed, the people in the helicopter are not armed. It was simply a need to refuel the helicopter
. "
According to him, the situation is not unprecedented: “
We regularly have difficulties with the authorities of Equatorial Guinea during logistical transits between Douala and Libreville.
This is not the first time that this has happened and therefore it does not cause any particular concern on our side and I think that we will quickly find a solution.
"
The six French soldiers detained at Bata airport are in contact with the French Embassy in Equatorial Guinea, which is now handling this case.
Newsletter
Receive all international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
Equatorial Guinea
France