Authorities in the Central African Republic (CAR) have taken rebel leader and former government minister Armel Sayo into custody over serious allegations including war crimes and crimes against humanity. Prosecutors confirmed on Friday that Sayo, who heads the armed group known as the Military Coalition for the Salvation of the People and Recovery (CMSPR), is facing multiple charges following a series of violent attacks attributed to his faction.
Sayo, 45, was arrested in Cameroon in January while attempting to board a flight to France, according to local reports. After spending four months in a Cameroonian prison, he was transferred to CAR earlier this week and is currently being held at a high-security military facility in Bangui.
The Central African public prosecutor’s office said in a statement that a formal investigation has been launched, accusing Sayo of criminal association, rebellion, and offences against state security in addition to war crimes and crimes against humanity. These charges stem largely from a deadly raid in February on the town of Markounda in northern CAR, which authorities blamed on the CMSPR.
Sayo had previously served in various ministerial roles, despite his rebel affiliations. His arrest follows increasing pressure from CAR officials for his extradition after the Markounda incident triggered renewed efforts to hold him accountable.
The prosecutor also confirmed that several of Sayo’s associates have been arrested and warned the public against supporting individuals or groups intent on reigniting conflict in the country.
Despite some improvements in national security—thanks in part to support from Russian Wagner paramilitaries and Rwandan forces—violence continues in parts of CAR, particularly in the northwest and east. The nation has experienced persistent instability and armed uprisings since gaining independence from France in 1960.
