Bangui court issues questionable arrest warrant for MP
A document dated November 2, 2026, purportedly from a Bangui judge, orders the arrest of MP Élie-Allard Namtoli without specifying charges or citing immunity.
A document dated November 2, 2026, presented as an arrest warrant for Member of Parliament Élie-Allard Namtoli, is circulating and raising questions about its legitimacy. The warrant, attributed to second special investigating judge Doumely Nakoé Basile Donald of the Tribunal de grande instance of Bangui, orders international forces, bailiffs, and law enforcement to bring the MP before the magistrate.
The document, bearing the letterhead of the Court of Appeal of Bangui, the High Court, and special investigating chamber number 2, lacks any mention of the specific offenses attributed to the parliamentarian. It does not reference any procedure for lifting his parliamentary immunity.
This raises concerns about whether the document is a genuine judicial act or a fabricated instrument designed to provide a legal facade for an operation targeting a parliamentarian. The absence of specified charges and the disregard for immunity procedures are notable anomalies.