Human rights advocates and political leaders in the Central African Republic (CAR) have alleged that two missing soldiers were kidnapped by Russian-backed mercenaries.
Celestin Bakoyo and Elie Ngouengue, both soldiers connected with a militia aligned with the Wagner Group, disappeared on January 24.
The soldiers had been detained at a police station in the capital, Bangui.
Ernest Mizedio, a regional politician, stated that the two were part of a group arrested by Russian mercenaries.
These mercenaries had been training militia members and integrating them into the country’s army. Despite exhaustive searches, Mizedio reported no success in locating the soldiers.
Mizedio also noted that both law enforcement and Russian contractors denied knowing the soldiers’ whereabouts, heightening the concerns of their families and supporters.
Protests and marches have erupted in the southeast, demanding answers about the soldiers’ fate.
The two soldiers had been in Bangui to open new bank accounts to access their military earnings.
Their disappearance adds to growing tensions as Russia extends its military presence across Africa, using mercenaries to suppress rebellions and fight extremists.
Joseph Bindoumi, head of the Central African Republic’s League for Human Rights, condemned the disappearances, calling them kidnappings.
He stressed the need for transparency in the treatment of detained individuals, even if they were accused of crimes.
In the Obo region, residents expressed anger, drawing comparisons between rebel groups and the mercenaries.
Robert Mboli, a local resident, stated, “We will demonstrate until they explain what they blame them for.”
The Russian mercenaries have faced criticism for their human rights abuses in Africa, including torture and killings, according to reports by organizations like The Sentry.
