Detained Central African Republic Minister Regains Freedom

The Central African Republic former Minister of Animal Breeding and Animal Health, Ali Hassan Bouba, who was arrested and detained on Friday, Nov.19, has been released, HumAngle can report.

Ali Hassan Bouba, who is the Political Coordinator of the Unite pour la Paix en Centrafrique (UPC) rebel group was arrested in his office in Bangui on instructions from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity committed by himself and his combatants in the country.

He was  detained in the Camp Roux prison.

Reliable diplomatic sources in Bangui say the former minister was released on  Friday following pressure from President Faustin Archange Touadera who has been  under pressure by the Russian mercenaries of the Wagner Security Group to order the release.

“Right from the day Ali Hassan was arrested, the Central African Republic leader, Touadera, has been against any criminal action taken against him,” a senior opposition party official told HumAngle.

“He is opposed to Ali Hassan being transferred to the International Criminal Tribunal and this is because Ali is his henchman.”

Many in the country believe that President Faustin Touadera would go to any length, including the release of individuals like Ali Hassan Bouba, who have committed crimes against humanity, as long as they support him to remain in power.

“Why would a head of state order the release of an individual suspected by the international community of having personally committed and led others to commit atrocities against his own people?” asked a political activist who did not want to be named in the media. 

“A few months ago, during his swearing-in as head of state for a second term, President Touadera declared that his second mandate would be placed under the sign of ‘zero impunity’ and that all the blood of victims would not remain unpunished. What has changed now that he does not want Ali Hassan to be punished for the blood of compatriots he spilled?” asked another politician.

Another political activist opined that the implication of politicians in judicial affairs does not augur well for the return of peace in the Central African Republic.