Authorities in the Central African Republic (CAR) arrested four French soldiers Monday amid reports of a possible assassination attempt on President Faustin Archange Touadéra.
Relations between the two countries have deteriorated recently after the country engaged the Russian Wagner. Against the backdrop of these tensions, CAR authorities have increased their vigilance against the deployment of French troops in the country.
Security officials picked up the four soldiers at the Bangui airport and detained them in the gendarmerie. The government did not provide further details, but reports point to an assassination attempt as the reason for the detention.
France and the UN have denied the allegations, saying the soldiers were on official business protecting a general who was about to fly to Paris.
Their statement said, "The close protection team of General (Stéphane) Marchenoir, chief of staff of the Minusca (United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic) force, consisting of four French soldiers, was arrested this afternoon at the Bangui airport."