© AFP – ALEXIS HUGUET
A Minusca vehicle patrols Bangui on December 22, 2020.
In the Central African Republic four French soldiers from the Minusca, the UN mission in the Central African Republic were arrested by the gendarmerie, this Monday, February 21, 2022, at the end of the day at Bangui airport. Immediately, their images were posted on social networks accompanied by accusations of ” assassination attempt of the Central African President. The French Embassy and the UN denounce an operation of “ gross misinformation ».
With our correspondent in Bangui, Carol Valade
General Marchenoir, Chief of Staff of the Minusca, had barely taken off for Paris when four French soldiers from his close guard were arrested and then taken aboard a gendarmerie vehicle. Bangui airport was under heavy surveillance at the time, as President Faustin-Archange Touadéra’s plane, returning from a visit abroad, was due to land any minute now.
The Minusca regrets the incident
In a statement, the Minusca said ” regret this incident “and condemns” its instrumentalization on social networks”. Indeed, images of the four arrested blue helmets, their United Nations badges and their military equipment flooded social networks last night. via dozens of accounts across Africa. They were accompanied by the comment “ attempted assassination of the Central African president ».
Disclaimer of any comments
A version taken up by a reputable news site close to Russian interests in the Central African Republic, but denied by the French Embassy and Minsuca. The spokesman for the presidency, the government and the general management of the police confirm the arrest, but refuse to comment for the time being. According to several sources, the four men are still in detention.
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