CAR: Former hostages greeted by President Touadéra on return to Bangui

In Central African Republic, three hostages released this week after 10 months in captivity arrived in Bangui aboard a special UN flight. A local government official and two members of the National Election Authority, they were kidnapped in Bambouti in December, on the day of the general election. In Bangui, they received a hero's welcome. The period we spent in captivity was truly horrific. we endured in the bush was extremely difficult. Today, we feel immense joy at having been received by the President of the Republic, Mr Faustin-Archange Touadéra." Government officials and the MINUSCA peacekeeping force negotiated for months with the Azande militants behind the kidnap. The Russian-trained armed group emerged in the Ouémbou region of CAR in 2023 in a bid to expel rebels from the Union for Peace.