CAR Opposition Figure Denounces Passport Confiscation

Anicet Georges Dologuélé, the former Prime Minister and opposition leader in the Central African Republic, has vehemently condemned the government's confiscation of his diplomatic passport. He describes this action as a clear abuse of power, heightening the existing political tensions and raising alarms about civil liberties and political rights in the nation.

Dologuélé was prevented from boarding a flight to Addis Ababa, intended for a meeting related to the African Union Peace Fund. Airport officials informed him of the travel ban stemming from the reported seizure of his passport.

At a press conference held in Bangui, Dologuélé expressed deep dismay and frustration, articulating feelings of being rendered “stateless” in his homeland. He alleged that the authorities are targeting political dissenters through bureaucratic harassment and restrictions.

Having served as Prime Minister from 1999 to 2001, Dologuélé is a prominent face in the opposition landscape. He has been active on the board of the African Union Peace Fund since 2018, partaking in significant international discussions surrounding peace and stability.

This political confrontation follows his recent candidacy against President Faustin-Archange Touadéra in the last election, where Dologuélé renounced his French citizenship to meet constitutional criteria. He has consistently labeled the election process as flawed and lacking transparency, with the official results showing him with only 13.1 percent of the vote.

Dologuélé has claimed the government denied him a standard passport after he relinquished his French nationality, leading him to continue using the diplomatic passport as a former prime minister due to the absence of a new document.

Political experts suggest that this incident could heighten concerns regarding democratic integrity and political freedoms in the Central African Republic. Advocacy groups and global observers have repeatedly voiced apprehensions about the challenges faced by opposition figures.

The situation has garnered attention across the African continent, given that Dologuélé was engaged in official duties linked to the African Union Peace Fund. Analysts believe this controversy might compel the government to clarify its rationale for the passport seize and provide updates on Dologuélé's travel document status.