Belgian arrested by Wagner mercenaries in Central African Republic

Mercenaries from the Russian-funded Wagner Group have arrested a Belgian in the Central African Republic. The man, a humanitarian aid worker, was reportedly detained for not carrying identity documents during a check. 

Wagner mercenaries, backed by the African militias they are working with, have in recent days driven out the rebels of UPC (Union for Peace), with whom they are vying for power, in several cities in the country. During those operations, a Belgian man of Portuguese origin was also arrested, according to Het Laatste Nieuws. The news was confirmed by the Foreign Affairs Department.

According to the Central African news site Corbeau News Centrafrique, the Belgian works in the village of Zémio for 360FHI, a non-profit organisation. He was reportedly arrested for not carrying his ID during a check. His colleagues, fellow NGO workers, dare not bring his identity papers for fear of being arrested themselves. 

“The Foreign Affairs Department has been informed by the embassy of Cameroon,” said spokesperson Wouter Poels. “We are following the situation closely, but as it concerns an individual person we cannot comment further.”

The Wagner Group operates in several African countries, providing security services and paramilitary assistance and launching disinformation campaigns for troubled regimes in exchange for resource concessions and diplomatic support. The Central African Republic is one of Wagner’s greatest African laboratories and serves as a centre of economic and military influence for Moscow.

^{A Russian flag on a monument in Bangui, Central African Republic © PHOTO BARBARA DEBOUT / AFP}