BANGUI, Central African Republic — A prominent opposition leader and former prime minister in the Central African Republic has condemned authorities for taking his diplomatic passport, calling it a misuse of government power.
Anicet Georges Dologuélé, who held the prime minister position from 1999 to 2001, was prevented from boarding his scheduled flight to attend an African Union conference in Addis Ababa on Wednesday.
“It was at the airport that I learned I was forbidden from leaving the country after being declared stateless in my own country,” Dologuélé stated during a press briefing held in the nation’s capital, Bangui.
Since 2018, Dologuélé has served as a board member for the African Union Peace Fund.
Last year, Dologuélé gave up his French citizenship to comply with constitutional requirements when he challenged President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, who sought a third term in office.
Dologuélé has called the previous year’s election “very far from the truth” and frequently voices opposition to Touadéra’s leadership. Official election results showed he received 13.1% of the vote.
Since then, he has relied on his diplomatic passport, which he received as a former prime minister, after alleging that government officials have declined to provide him with a new standard passport.
