The OCRB arrested several young people on Monday, 26 October 2026, in the sixth arrondissement of Bangui. These detentions occurred as part of a series of security operations conducted by the agency within the city. On Monday, October 26, 2026, several young people were arrested by the OCRB in the sixth arrondissement of Bangui. These arrests have drawn scrutiny regarding the specific criteria used by the agency to determine who is detained during these ongoing security sweeps.
Officials from the OCRB justify these operations in various neighborhoods by accusing individuals of consuming narcotics. The agency maintains that its presence and subsequent arrests are a direct response to the alleged use of illegal substances among the local population. The OCRB justifies its operations in neighborhoods by accusing individuals of consuming narcotics. By citing the prevalence of drug consumption as the primary driver for these interventions, the agency has established a stated rationale for its increased activity across multiple districts of the capital.
Discrepancies in Drug Enforcement
Anselme Mbata observed a group of street children consuming drugs in public at the rond-point Zéro in Bangui at approximately 14:00 on 26 October 2026. These individuals remained at the location near a police mobile post without facing arrest by security personnel present in the area. On October 26, 2026, at approximately 14:00, a group of street children were observed consuming drugs in public at the rond-point Zéro in Bangui near a police mobile post without being arrested. The presence of security personnel at the mobile post, despite the visible activity occurring in their immediate vicinity, has led to questions regarding the consistency of enforcement policies. While the OCRB conducts operations elsewhere in the city targeting alleged narcotics use, the lack of intervention at this specific location notes a disparity in how security forces respond to similar reported behaviors in different parts of Bangui.
Residents living in the third arrondissement of Bangui report that the OCS engages in extortion practices similar to those alleged against other security agencies. These accounts from local inhabitants describe a pattern of behavior involving the OCS within the third arrondissement that parallels accusations directed at authorities operating elsewhere in the city. Residents in the third arrondissement of Bangui report similar extortion practices by the OCS. These reports indicate that the concerns regarding the conduct of security personnel are not limited to a single agency or a single neighborhood. The consistency of these claims, emerging from the third arrondissement, suggests a broader issue regarding the interaction between local inhabitants and the OCS. As these accounts continue to circulate, they reflect a growing tension between those living in the third arrondissement and the security forces tasked with maintaining order in the area. The allegations of extortion, when viewed alongside the broader security operations, provide a detailed picture of the current environment in Bangui.
