A dozen tourists, Russians and a Lithuanian, were arrested just over a week ago in the Chadian Sahara, near Faya-Largeau, in the north of the country. They were returned to the capital Ndjamena manu militari, and were admitted to an exclusive hotel pending the completion of the ongoing investigation to determine the reasons for their presence in an area considered “red”.
This group of ten people, Russians and a Lithuanian, would have come from Cameroon around May 25 before going up the whole territory of Chadi in 4×4 to the Sahara. They were arrested around Faya-Largeau, in the north of the country, just over a week ago. Their passports, telephones, computers and compasses were confiscated. Their content has meanwhile been scrutinized by Chadian intelligence services with the help of their Israeli friends.
These people, presented as tourists, were then transferred to Ndjamena, where they were placed under house arrest in a hotel pending the completion of an ongoing investigation to determine why they were in a so-called “military operation” zone.
Protected
Is it a wish not to insult the mighty Russia? The Chadian Foreign Ministry assured, in an oral remark to the Russian embassy in Ndjamena, that they were “never arrested” but rather protected to prevent being kidnapped or killed.
But the presence of this group in a “red zone” where rebel incursions are regularly reported, not very far from Libya where there is a presence of Russian mercenaries and after an attack carried out by Central African soldiers and Russian paramilitaries from Wagner in Chadian territory in late May, aroused great suspicion in Chad, according to a security source.
Reconnaissance mission or vraitourism in the desert? The security services are leaning towards the first hypothesis, according to our source. The elements found in their various devices confirmed them in their belief. But officially, the diplomatic chief apologizes for the inconvenience to these Russian citizens, who can now go home quietly. Their departure is scheduled from this morning to Wednesday. their embassy. Their Chadian guides are still in the hands of the intelligence services, who continue to question them.
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