Central African Republic: four French soldiers arrested in Bangui

Europe 1 with AFP 06:45, February 22, 2022

Four French soldiers escorting a general of the UN force were arrested Monday at Bangui airport in the Central African Republic, immediately triggering accusations of "attempted assassination" of the Central African president on social networks, qualified by Paris and the of gross manipulation.

The four men were still in the premises of the gendarmerie in the evening, told AFP in Paris an official of the general staff of the French armies, adding: "the problem is being resolved, at this stage, there is no worry."

-Press Release-

The close protection team of General Marchenoir, Chief of Staff of the Minusca Force, composed of four French soldiers, was arrested this afternoon at Bangui airport.

These 4 security officers were escorting the Chief of Staff of the ⤵️

– France in Bangui (@FranceBangui) February 21, 2022

The soldiers would have wanted to assassinate the Central African president

"The close protection team of General (Stéphane) Marchenoir, Chief of Staff of the Minusca Force (United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic), made up of four French soldiers, was arrested this afternoon at the Bangui airport" as they escorted the general who was to fly to Paris, the embassy said in a statement on its Twitter and Facebook accounts.

Many private accounts then spread on social networks with accusations against the French soldiers, claiming in particular that they had wanted to "assassinate" the Central African President Faustin Archange Touadéra, with many photos of their alleged vehicle and weapons "seized" during their arrest.

Tense relations between France and the Central African Republic

This incident comes at a time when relations between France and its former colony are increasingly tense, exacerbated by a fierce war of influence between Paris and Moscow, in this country in civil war since 2013. France blames the Central African Republic to be "accomplice" of an anti-French campaign orchestrated by Moscow, in particular by countless trolls on social networks and in certain media.

And Moscow criticizes Paris for accusing the Russian private security company Wagner of having taken control of the country's power and resources.

"The embassy deeply regrets this incident. It condemns its immediate instrumentalization on certain malicious networks and the gross disinformation to which it gives rise", wrote the diplomatic representation on Monday evening.

"They were at the airport to escort the general, it was a combination of circumstances that meant that at the same time, President Touadéra's plane was landing", explained the Parisian army staff to the AFP.

"Without particular reasons, they were arrested by the Central African gendarmerie while they were near the airport and charges relating to an attempted attack were made via social networks," the source continued.

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Russia's aid

In a press release, the Minusca "regretted this incident and strongly condemns its instrumentalization on social networks, in an attempt to manipulate public opinion".

"She categorically rejects the charges of undermining state security," concludes the peacekeeping force.

The Minusca has about 15,000 soldiers and police in this country among the poorest in the world and in civil war for nearly nine years.

At the end of December 2020, a coalition of several of the armed groups which then controlled more than two-thirds of the Central African Republic launched an offensive towards Bangui to overthrow President Touadéra on the eve of the presidential election.

The Head of State, finally re-elected, had then called on Moscow to the rescue of his impoverished and poorly trained army and hundreds of Russian paramilitaries had come to add to many others present for three years.

"Unarmed instructors" assures Moscow, Wagner fighters, according to the UN and France, who accuse them of committing human rights violations.

Since their dazzling counter-offensive, the Central African military, mainly thanks to Russian paramilitaries, have regained most of the territory, pushing the rebels out of the towns and their main strongholds.

The latter are now carrying out furtive guerrilla actions against the security forces and civilians.