Five Central African activists begin hunger strike in Bangui
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Corbeaunews Centrafrique
Five Central African civil society leaders arrested on 15 October in Bangui have begun a hunger strike after being transferred from police custody to the gendarmerie, in a severely weakened state. Quentin Claver Ngouando, Élysée Nguemale and three other activists are being held at the Research and Investigation Section, reports Corbeaunews Centrafrique.
The five Central African civil society leaders arrested on 15 October in Bangui have begun a hunger strike while being held at the gendarmerie’s Research and Investigation Section (SRI), reports Corbeaunews Centrafrique. The outlet says they were transferred there after two days in police cells, where they were allegedly denied food and water.
Their severely weakened condition on arrival angered gendarmes with their police colleagues, according to Corbeaunews Centrafrique. The detainees are Quentin Claver Ngouando, coordinator of the iGwé movement; Élysée Nguemale, coordinator of the Organisation for Democratic Governance in Central Africa (OGDC); Stève Bendo Deny; Barry Mardios; and Igor Mokpem.
Stève Bendo Deny was arrested at his home in the Combattant district between 4am and 5am on 15 October and taken to the central police station. The other four leaders were detained a few hours later as they were preparing to hold a press conference at the Centre Saint-Jean 23. The meeting was due to address, among other things, rising fuel prices and civil society’s demands following the 12 October “city lockdown” day, the outlet reports.
The five leaders were still being held on 18 October, when civil society called for their release and said they had been denied lawyers. The prosecution charged them with disturbing public order on 19 October, according to reports on the charges against the five leaders.
Summary produced with the help of artificial intelligence tools, under AFREEQUE’s editorial responsibility.
