A 28-second video, shared more than 65 times since March 17, 2023, on a Facebook account belonging to Charles Desire Zang Zang, claims that the city of Grimari is under the control of the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC). According to the local authorities of Grimari and the Ministry of Defense and National Army Restructuring, this claim is false.
Verification:
To verify this information and distinguish fact from fiction, AFC interviewed the local authorities of Grimari and the Ministry of Defense.
What do the authorities say?
Captain Firmin Amolo-Mallo, spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense and National Army Restructuring, stated:
“This is false information. Our security forces are currently on the ground in the city. I assure you that this information is incorrect; the city of Grimari is calm at the moment.”
On March 19, 2023, Victor Bissekoin, the Prefect of Ouaka, also refuted this claim:
“False, the city of Grimari is indeed calm and is not under CPC control.”
Similarly, Maxime Gbolokouzou, President of the Special Delegation of Grimari, rejected these claims and assured the tranquility in the city:
“The city is in excellent security; my wife is currently at church, which reflects the peace here. Therefore, this is false information.”
The city of Grimari, located 305 km from Bangui, is one of the towns in the Ouaka Prefecture. This misinformation follows the recent killing of nine Chinese nationals at a mining site in Chimbolo, a village 25 km from Bambari in Ouaka. However, according to the competent authorities contacted, Grimari is not under the control of the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC).
By Marie-Paule Vopiade / Romaric Gbomandji / AFC
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