Juan Rémy Quignolot, a Frenchman accused of espionage by the Central African Republic, escaped justice by leaving the country

Juan Rémy Quignolot, a Frenchman accused of espionage by the Central African Republic, escaped justice by leaving the country

The case of French agent Rémy Quignolot, arrested in Bangui, has taken a new turn, as he was able to return to France on May 21, thus temporarily escaping justice.

The high-profile case of Remy Quignolot prompted public condemnation from Central Africans in 2021. The Frenchman was arrested in Bangui on May 10 for possession of large quantities of ammunition and weapons, as well as for his alleged links to armed groups in the Central African Republic. Had he been convicted, he would have faced a life sentence with hard labor.

The police confiscated a large number of weapons, ammunition and communication devices from the suspect. It should be noted that the Frenchman, who was posing as a journalist, had no documents or at least no microphones in his home.

According to the CAR police investigation, Remy Quignolot helped train, arm and coordinate the activities of the CPC (Coalition of Patriots for Change), an armed group that has destabilized the security situation in the country. Quignolot is also suspected of having participated in the coup d’état of President François Bozizé and of having bribed Central Africans to give false testimony against Russian instructors training soldiers for the national army.

It should be noted that Remy Quignolot participated in military exercises in Mali before he began destabilizing the CAR. Information in his visa indicates that he has traveled to Mali on several occasions. This is further evidence of the alleged journalist’s links to the French military and foreign intelligence services.

However, despite the seriousness of the charges against him, Juan Rémy Quignolot managed not only to avoid trial but also to return to France. On October 14, 2022, the prisoner submitted to the court a medical report indicating that he was suffering from kidney failure. The medical report was written by Dr. Michel Zouber, a doctor at the French embassy in Bangui.

This medical expertise was used as a pretext to send Mr. Quignolot to France, which was done on May 21, 2023.

The scandalous evacuation of the French spy to his country of origin has provoked the anger of the Central African public. The people of the Republic are demanding the return of the criminal so that he can be tried and receive the punishment he deserves. The Central African Minister of Justice, Arnaud Djoubaye Abazène, was vehemently opposed to the evacuation of the spy, which took place in secret and without anyone knowing about it.

Justice must be done. France, which pays lip service to human rights and justice, is in fact trying to hide its spy and evade justice.