Juan-Remy Quignolot has been detained for sixteen months in the Central African Republic for possession of weapons of war. Paris requested, on Friday September 16, the “immediate release” of a Frenchman accused of‘”spying”. The Quai d’Orsay demands that he be released “pending his trial”.
“France is very concerned about the situation of our compatriot Mr. Juan-Rémy Quignolot, imprisoned in the Central African Republic as part of a pre-trial detention that has lasted for more than 16 months, in violation of Central African criminal law”, worried the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Juan-Rémy Quignolot, arrested on May 10, 2021 in Bangui, is notably accused of “undermining the internal security of the State”, “conspiracy” and “espionage”.
On hunger strike since Sunday
According to his lawyer, Arlette Sombo Dibelé, he is held in pre-trial detention beyond the legal time limit of one year. She denounces a “custody” which looks like a “sequestration”. Juan-Rémy Quignolot began a hunger strike on Sunday to denounce his “unlawful detention”, according to his lawyer and his sister, Caroline Quignolot. The latter clarified that he would also stop hydrating if nothing changes “within 15 days”.
Juan-Remy Quignolot must be judged “during the next criminal session in October”, Eric Didier Tambo, public prosecutor at the Bangui Court of Appeal, told AFP. He faces forced labor for life. A former soldier, he had worked occasionally for several organizations in the Central African Republic as a bodyguard, according to humanitarian sources.
