Central African Republic charges Frenchman with espionage

The Central African Republic’s attorney general today said a French national has been charged with espionage. The man was arrested with a cache of weapons and ammunition at his home last month.

Police found weapons, military fatigues and foreign bank notes at the home of Juan Remy Quignolot, 55, in the capital Bangui. Authorities accused him of aiding and training rebel fighters since 2013.

Quignolot has denied the accusations.

The gold- and diamond-producing nation of 4.7 million people has seen repeated bouts of militia violence since 2013. The country’s civil war ended in 2016, but election-related fighting broke out earlier this year.

Tensions have mounted between France and its former colony as Russia has sought to increase its influence in the country through military support.

France suspended aid and military support to the African nation on Tuesday because of what it said was a failure by the government to stop “massive disinformation campaigns” against French officials.