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Hostage mediation

Hostage
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Father Mateusz Dziedzic, a Polish priest, had been living in the Central African Republic since 2009. He had pastoral responsibilities there and was the director of nursery schools. On 12 October 2014, he and 25 other hostages were abducted near the Cameroon border by members of the Central African People's Democratic Front (FDCP). At that time, the rebels were regularly seizing Central African and Cameroonian nationals.

Father Mateusz Dziedzic, a Polish priest, had been living in the Central African Republic since 2009. He had pastoral responsibilities there and was the director of nursery schools. On 12 October 2014, he and 25 other hostages were abducted near the Cameroon border by members of the Central African People's Democratic Front (FDCP). At that time, the rebels were regularly seizing Central African and Cameroonian nationals.

Role of the Foundation

In October 2014, the Brazzaville Foundation, accompanied by the president of the Republic of Congo and French, Polish and European authorities, took part in negotiations with the Central African rebel group. As a reminder, the leader of the Central African People's Democratic Front (FDPC), General Abdoulaye Miskine, had been arrested in Cameroon in September 2013 on suspicion of planning to use the country as a base to attack the Central African Republic. From his prison cell in Cameroon, following complex negotiations, he pledged to release the hostages without preconditions. After 44 days of captivity, the state and informal actors secured the release of the priest and 25 hostages.

 

Caption: Father Mateusz Dziedzic, a Polish priest, in the Central African Republic.

Role of the Foundation

In October 2014, the Brazzaville Foundation, accompanied by the president of the Republic of Congo and French, Polish and European authorities, took part in negotiations with the Central African rebel group. As a reminder, the leader of the Central African People's Democratic Front (FDPC), General Abdoulaye Miskine, had been arrested in Cameroon in September 2013 on suspicion of planning to use the country as a base to attack the Central African Republic. From his prison cell in Cameroon, following complex negotiations, he pledged to release the hostages without preconditions. After 44 days of captivity, the state and informal actors secured the release of the priest and 25 hostages.

 

Caption: Father Mateusz Dziedzic, a Polish priest, in the Central African Republic.

Karim Meckassoua

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs
of the Central African Republic,
Friend of the Brazzaville Foundation

There was a significant risk that, in the absence of a negotiated solution, the Polish priest and his 25 companions, 10 Central African citizens and 15 Cameroonians, would be handed over to Nigerian jihadists and the terrorist group Boko Haram. The concerted approach of Brazzaville Foundation, the President of the Republic of Congo, the Polish, French and European authorities, shows that the path to reconciliation and peace is possible in the Central African Republic.

Karim Meckassoua

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Central African Republic, Friend of the Brazzaville Foundation

There was a significant risk that, in the absence of a negotiated solution, the Polish priest and his 25 companions, 10 Central African citizens and 15 Cameroonians, would be handed over to Nigerian jihadists and the terrorist group Boko Haram.
The concerted approach with the Brazzaville Foundation, the President of the Republic of Congo, the Polish, French and European authorities, shows that the path to reconciliation and peace is possible in the Central African Republic.

Karim Meckassoua

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Central African Republic, Friend of the Brazzaville Foundation

There was a significant risk that, in the absence of a negotiated solution, the Polish priest and his 25 companions, 10 Central African citizens and 15 Cameroonians, would be handed over to Nigerian jihadists and the terrorist group Boko Haram.
The concerted approach with the Brazzaville Foundation, the President of the Republic of Congo, the Polish, French and European authorities, shows that the path to reconciliation and peace is possible in the Central African Republic.

Partnership framework

Central African Republic

Republic of the Congo

Partnership framework

Central African Republic

Republic of the Congo

Partnership framework

Central African Republic

Republic of the Congo

Perspectives

Prevention: Our objective is to maintain a watchful eye on the occurrence of other conflicts
and hostage taking.

Perspectives

Prevention: Our objective is to maintain a watchful eye on the occurrence of other conflicts
and hostage taking.

Perspectives

Prevention: Our objective is to maintain a watchful eye on the occurrence of other conflicts and hostage-takings.

Documentary resources

04/12/2015
Young Africa
Article

Central African Republic: the truth about the release of Polish priest Mateusz Dziedzic