Raymond Adouma stated that the pacification claimed by President Touadéra exists only in speeches, not in reality for citizens.
Opposition figure Raymond Adouma directly challenged the government's security assertions, stating that the pacification claimed by President Faustin-Archange Touadéra exists only in speeches. Adouma argued that in the hinterlands and areas surrounding Bangui, the population cannot freely go about their activities due to armed groups obstructing movement and preventing normal circulation on roads.
Adouma pointed out that despite the national army having at least thirty-three thousand men, these forces are unable to secure areas near the capital or restore peace in villages, leaving towns isolated due to poor road infrastructure. He also criticized the presence of private militias, which he attributed to Minister Héritier Doneng, arguing that a republic cannot be built on unaccountable groups.
The former minister contested the president's recent investiture speech, highlighting a contradiction between claims of one hundred percent pacification and a new call for it. Adouma also questioned the disproportionate spending on foreign forces compared to the national army, suggesting it undermines security sovereignty. Minister Doneng defended the government's record, citing territorial reconquest and renewed community cohesion, but Adouma rejected these claims as not reflecting the population's reality.
Why it mattersCitizens in rural areas and around the capital are unable to move freely due to armed groups and poor infrastructure, contradicting official claims of security.
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