Dominique Désiré Erenon, one of the most outspoken critics of the Central African Republic (CAR) government, has been detained by security forces after returning from exile in France, sparking widespread concern among opposition figures and rights groups. Erenon, the leader of the March for Democracy and the People’s Salvation (MDSP) party, was arrested at Bangui M’Poko International Airport shortly after his arrival, just months before the country’s crucial December elections.
Authorities have yet to release an official statement explaining the reasons for Erenon’s arrest, fueling speculation of political intimidation aimed at silencing dissent. His detention comes despite President Faustin-Archange Touadéra’s recent public appeal for Central Africans living abroad to return home to help rebuild the nation. Erenon reportedly heeded that call, hoping to resume his teaching duties and rejoin national dialogue only to be apprehended upon landing.
According to local media, Erenon is being interrogated by the Research and Investigation Section (SRI) and may be referred to the public prosecutor for a formal hearing. His family has confirmed they are closely monitoring the situation and considering legal action.
Erenon, a former constitutional law lecturer at the University of Bangui and an expert previously associated with the African Union, fled the country in 2022 after what he described as an attempted abduction linked to his political activism. From exile in France, he continued to criticize President Touadéra’s administration and the controversial 2016 constitutional reforms, which expanded presidential powers and were widely condemned as a blow to democracy in the conflict-torn nation.
The arrest has intensified fears of shrinking political space in the Central African Republic, where the government has increasingly relied on Russian-backed security forces to maintain control. Civil society organizations and opposition parties have condemned Erenon’s detention as an attack on free expression and democratic participation, warning that it could further erode trust ahead of the upcoming elections.
As international observers call for transparency and due process, Erenon’s fate remains uncertain. His detention underscores the deepening tension between the government and opposition figures in a country still struggling to recover from years of conflict and instability.
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