AFRICA/CENTRAL AFRICA - Two alleged French mercenaries sought by the Central African justice system for the massacre in the church of Bangui

Thursday, 7 June 2018 violence  

Bangui (Agenzia Fides) - There is "overwhelming evidence" on the implication of two alleged French mercenaries in the massacre perpetrated on May 1 in Notre Dame de Fatima parish in Bangui, capital of the Central African Republic (see Fides 2/5/2018). This was stated by Attorney General Eric Didier Tambo.
According to the senior Central African magistrate, the massacre was committed by men belonging to the Nimery Matar Djamous, called "Force", at the head of the main militia that controls the PK5 district, where most of the Muslim population of Bangui lives, and which it is not far from the church where the massacre took place, in which 26 people died, including don Albert Toungoumale-Baba, a Central African priest loved by the faithful.
The Attorney General declared that he has issued an arrest warrant for Djamous and two international arrest warrants against the two French citizens, accused of having "helped and facilitated Djamous in acts of terrorism that targeted the church of Our Lady of Fatima".
The two French citizens, Christophe Raineteau, alias Alpha, and Bernard Cousin, are affected by the same indictments as Djamous, that is to say "terrorism, murder, rebellion, incitement to hatred".
Among the "overwhelming evidence" gathered by the Central African justice system against the two men, the Attorney General cited "documents, photos, audio recordings".
Meanwhile, the UN Mission in Central Africa (MINUSCA) warned against "the propaganda aimed at destabilizing the democratic institutions of the Country by deliberately re-igniting religious and community tensions with unfounded claims". (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 7/6/2018)


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