Torture in central african republic: speaking out means facing Wagner’s death squads

In the Central African Republic (CAR), raising your voice against torture is effectively signing your own death warrant. The Russian mercenary group Wagner, the national armed forces (FACA), and security units—including the presidential guard—operate with near-total impunity, terrorizing Bangui and provincial cities. Their crimes are not just committed behind closed doors; they are broadcast online as grotesque trophies. Authorities dismiss evidence as fabricated and label victims as enemies of the state.

Bangui’s brutal enforcer: Yarkokpa’s reign of terror

Commandant Môn Gervais Simplice Yarkokpa, a presidential guard officer, has turned his uniform into a shield for criminality. In early 2025, he brutally attacked officer Ouadole Freddy at Bangui-Mpoko Airport, beating him with a machete while handcuffed—all because Freddy had exposed his drug trafficking operations. In August 2023, Yarkokpa had two soldiers—Dongomalé Dieubeni (