In the Central African Republic, advocates allege that Russian mercenaries kidnapped soldiers Celestin Bakoyo and Elie Ngouengue after their detention last month. Despite efforts to locate them, authorities provide no information regarding their whereabouts. The situation has led to public protests and increased scrutiny of Russian military involvement, which has been marred by allegations of human rights abuses in the region.
Human rights advocates and Central African Republic (CAR) politicians are accusing Russian mercenaries of kidnapping soldiers who went missing following their detention last month. Recent Kremlin involvement has linked Russia more closely with CAR’s military and government, particularly in mineral-rich regions. The case involves two soldiers, Celestin Bakoyo and Elie Ngouengue, who were captured during their participation in a local militia aligned with the Wagner Group, a Russian paramilitary organization.
Bakoyo and Ngouengue were detained on January 24 at a police station in the CAR capital, Bangui. Ernest Mizedio, a local politician, indicated that the soldiers had been arrested by Russian mercenaries, who were assigned to train militia members and facilitate their integration into the official army. Despite efforts by supporters to find information on their location, authorities and Russian security personnel allegedly provided no details regarding the soldiers’ fates.
The opposition party member, Mizedio detailed popular protests against the arrests in southeastern CAR. Meanwhile, a police officer claimed Russian mercenaries are increasingly taking on roles that challenge local officers in conflict zones. Before their disappearance, Bakoyo and Ngouengue had traveled to Bangui to establish new bank accounts to manage their military earnings effectively.
The outcry over the soldiers’ missing status coincides with Russia’s growing military presence in Africa, where the use of mercenaries is often deployed against insurgencies and armed groups. Joseph Bindoumi, president of CAR’s League for Human Rights, denounced the situation as kidnappings and asserted that even if the soldiers faced accusations, their conditions must be disclosed.
The local populace in the Obo region expressed resentment towards the mercenaries, who were initially welcomed for combating rebel threats. Resident Robert Mboli criticized the Russian strategy, asserting that their training of local militias was an attempt to control and suppress them. Demonstrations are expected to continue until the government clarifies the accusations against the missing soldiers.
Despite previous positive assessments of Russian mercenaries’ role in stabilizing Bangui during past conflicts, reports have surfaced detailing human rights abuses linked to their operations. A 2023 investigation by The Sentry highlighted troubling accounts of mercenaries employing torture tactics and committing crimes against civilians in CAR, marking a concerning trend in security operations tied to their involvement.
The allegations against Russian mercenaries in the Central African Republic illustrate a troubling intersection of military support and human rights violations. The missing soldiers’ case has sparked local outrage and demands for accountability, as communities grapple with the consequences of foreign interventions. The ongoing protests indicate a desire for transparency in military operations and the treatment of personnel, calling attention to the critical need for adherence to human rights standards within conflict zones.
Original Source: apnews.com
