Central African Republic government issue statement on arrest of two French nationals

On June 10, in a move that has since sparked widespread concern, law enforcement officials detained Ben Salam and Osmani Samir Antonio in the Ouango district. A subsequent search of their residences unveiled a startling array of weaponry, including grenades, assault rifles, and pistols.

The press release, dated June 12, confirmed that the duo, holding dual French-Algerian nationality, were taken into police custody. The Central African government has since launched judicial investigations into the matter. The seized items listed by the Prosecutor’s Office also comprised 20 thousand CFA francs and 11 thousand Congolese francs, raising questions about the detainees’ activities in the region.

The revelation of the arrests sent shockwaves through Bangui, with residents expressing alarm at the thought of such heavily armed individuals moving unchecked within the city. The prevailing belief among the populace is that Salam and Antonio’s presence in the country was part of a plot to destabilize the already fragile peace.

In response to the arrests, the Prosecutor’s Office has issued a call to action, urging the Central African population to remain vigilant and report any suspicious behavior that could jeopardize the nation’s peace and security. This incident has heightened the scrutiny of foreign nationals and organizations’ activities in the Central African Republic, as the community grapples with the implications of this unsettling discovery.