Blaise Didacien Kossimatchi Arrested
By Antoinette KODROGUÉ | LAMINE MÉDIA Translated into Englisr by Gwenaëlle DE LACAN
(Bangui, July 2, 2026 | LNC) The Central African Republic is a country that respects the rule of law—or so one might gather from yesterday's events, specifically the arbitrary arrest of Blaise Didacien Kossimatchi at the Research and Investigation Section (SRI) following his questioning by investigators. Today, his defense counsel—who also coordinates the GALAXI platform and teaches the history of colonization at the University of Bangui—strongly criticized the decision to keep his client in custody. Kossimatchi was arrested without justification—an act seemingly driven by executive fiat. His lawyer raised the possibility of a politically motivated settling of scores, while noting that the defense reserved the right to make further statements at the appropriate time. When asked about the legal next steps, Mr. Mvondo-Ze stated that the Public Prosecutor should order his client's immediate release. "We see no urgency or danger that could justify keeping Mr. Kossimatchi at the SRI facility. At this stage, the case file is empty and lacks sufficient evidence to warrant holding him." Speaking to the press regarding the ongoing investigation, Mr. Francis Ludovic Mvondo-Ze indicated that he and his colleagues had been urgently retained to represent Kossimatchi. In his view, the deprivation of his client's liberty is unjustified and constitutes a major procedural irregularity. "Government members do not constitute a civil party as a collective entity. In the absence of a civil party and evidentiary material, we consider this an arbitrary measure," Mr. Mvondo-Ze argued, before challenging the ongoing proceedings. "Proceedings cannot be initiated against a citizen without evidence justifying their continued police custody. The law must be respected. When it is flouted, society as a whole suffers the consequences," he stated. There has been no reaction from judicial authorities; it is worth noting that one of the figures behind the accusation is a member of President Touadéra’s MCU party.
LNC
Date: July 2, 2026
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