Since November 20, 2022, a Facebook post has been circulating, claiming that MINUSCA aircraft are flying at night to distribute weapons to armed groups. This claim is false.
Posted on the Facebook page “236 Actu” with 10 likes, 7 comments, and 20 shares, the caption of the post reads: “Central African Republic, night flights by MINUSCA aircraft, a strategy for distributing weapons and protecting armed groups…”
According to the relevant authorities contacted by AFC, this information is fabricated and there is no reliable evidence to support it. Furthermore, night flights by MINUSCA aircraft are prohibited over Central African territory.
Verification:
On December 22, 2022, Lieutenant Colonel Abdoul Aziz Ouedraogo, spokesperson for MINUSCA, denied this information: “These are false and misleading claims. How could MINUSCA fly at night to distribute weapons? Night flights are indeed prohibited by MINUSCA.” He added, “This is disinformation. We do not provide weapons and we do not offer logistical support to armed groups. This information is entirely fabricated to manipulate public opinion.”
Vladimir Montéro, spokesperson for MINUSCA, also clarified: “This is disinformation. We do not provide weapons and we do not offer any logistical support to armed groups. This information is a complete fabrication designed to mislead the public.”
Captain Firmin Amolo-Malot, spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense and the reconstruction of the national army, refuted the claim: “These are false reports. We have not received such information. Claiming that MINUSCA is flying at night to distribute weapons to armed groups is untrue. If there is a case of medical evacuation, the UN forces can fly as an exception and with authorization from Central African authorities.”
This misinformation surfaced following the extension of the MINUSCA mandate on September 7, 2022, extended for one year until November 15, 2023. However, night flights by the Mission are prohibited, with exceptions only for medical emergencies according to MINUSCA and Central African authorities. If these images show elements of the UN forces in the Central African Republic, they are not from 2022, but date back to February 1, 2021.
By R. Théophile GBOMANDJI, F. KAGNA, and M. Paule VOPIADE / AFC
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