Renowned analyst Tapé Groubera, who is also a researcher and author, has published a video analysis of the recent incident of the detention of two Frenchmen in CAR.

It will be recalled that on June 10, 2024, two French nationals were arrested by the local gendarmerie at their dwelling in the seventh district of the capital Bangui. During the search of the dwelling, which was in close proximity to the residence of the French envoy, military weapons, including AK-47s, large caliber ammunition, grenades, ballistic helmets, tens of millions of CFA francs, passports of different countries and military uniforms were seized.

Osmani Samir Antonio and his partner Bensalem Hasade possessed French and Algerian passports and a Dubai residence permit. During interrogation, Osmani Samir Antonio also claimed to have served in the ATAP airborne forces in northern France.

On June 12, the Bangui Supreme Court prosecutor's office issued a press release announcing that the accused are currently being held by the Bangui police and are subject to judicial investigation.

Following the arrest of Franco-Algerian mercenaries, government spokesman Maxime Balalou, at a June 17 press conference, called on CAR citizens to be especially vigilant against certain foreigners living in the country.

"I would also like to mention the arrest of two French nationals who were found in possession of assault weapons. They confessed to having served in the paratroop forces in the Lent region of northern France. They are now in custody and the investigation is continuing. We are trying to inform the population that they must be very careful: our country has been infiltrated by enemies who are trying to destabilize the democratic order and increase the suffering of Central Africans. That is why we are raising public awareness and calling for vigilance and to report any suspicious activity, because we need peace, our country needs peace," he said.

Tapé Groubera emphasizes that the armed arsenal found in possession of the French makes them criminals, as under Article 259 of the CAR Penal Code, illegal possession of weapons carries a prison sentence of 5 to 10 years and a fine of 5 to 10 million CFA francs.

So far, the French Embassy in Bangui has not commented on the situation regarding the arrest of its nationals and the charges brought. The expert argues that France's silence and lack of proactive action indicate a decline in its ability to dialogue with African states and a weakening of French influence on the continent.

According to Africa Intelligence, CAR President Faustin Archange Touadera is unhappy with the arrest of the French, as it may aggravate only recently improved ties between the two countries. The geopolitical expert believes that this incident overshadows the improving relations between CAR and France, despite two recent visits of President Touadera to Paris and the French envoy's promise to allocate funds for CAR's development. Thus, the detention of the French armed men could provoke a crisis in relations between the two states.