Residents of Ndélé in the Central African Republic’s Bamingui-Bangoran prefecture have brought the city to a standstill with a two-day strike after accusing Wagner mercenaries of unlawfully detaining a local transporter.
Since Friday, businesses have shuttered, markets have closed, and streets lie deserted as anger over the transporter’s disappearance fuels protests. Family members of the detained man say they have received no official updates on his whereabouts or condition, deepening fears that he may have been killed in custody.
Truck seizure sparks outrage in Ndélé
The incident began Tuesday evening when a transport truck arriving from Bangui was stopped at Ndélé’s outskirts. Wagner operatives conducted a thorough search, confiscating personal belongings, phones, and wallets from passengers. Tramadol, a prescription painkiller, was also seized during the inspection.
Local traders and passengers argue that these drugs are routinely used for medical purposes and should not be automatically classified as contraband. Many suspect Wagner operatives of profiting from the Tramadol trade themselves, sourcing the medication in bulk from neighboring countries before distributing it across the Central African Republic.
Contradictions fuel public anger
The seizure of Tramadol has intensified distrust toward Wagner forces. Residents claim the mercenaries operate a parallel drug trade while arbitrarily seizing medications from ordinary citizens during roadblocks. This perceived hypocrisy has turned local frustration into open defiance.
Detainee remains missing as protests escalate
While the truck’s driver was released hours after being held, the transporter—who rented the vehicle—remains in custody. Four days have passed without any communication from authorities or Wagner personnel regarding his fate, leaving his family in anguish.
Rumors of his death have spread through Ndélé, though no independent confirmation exists. The lack of transparency has only hardened the resolve of residents, who now demand his immediate release and an end to Wagner’s unchecked patrols.
City paralyzed by strike action
By Friday, the strike had gained momentum, with nearly all commercial activity grinding to a halt. Markets stood empty, shops remained shuttered, and streets emptied of pedestrians. Saturday saw no respite, as the protest entered its second day with no signs of abating.
Locals emphasize that this is not just about one missing man—it reflects broader grievances over Wagner’s control of regional road networks, arbitrary vehicle searches, and the confiscation of private property.
Wagner’s expanding role in Ndélé’s security
The transporter’s detention highlights Wagner’s growing influence in managing security along key routes to Ndélé. The group has taken over vehicle inspections, passenger checks, and even vehicle immobilization, often seizing goods under vague suspicions of illicit activity.
In this case, Wagner operatives not only confiscated personal items and Tramadol but also detained both the driver and transporter before releasing the former without explanation. The latter’s continued detention without charges or updates has become a rallying point for public anger.
Transport sector caught in the crossfire
The detained man was not the truck’s owner but a renter operating shuttle services between Bangui and provincial towns—a common practice in the Central African Republic’s transport industry. His family, unable to reach him or obtain any information, now joins the city in mourning and protest.
