Armel Mingatoloum Sayo, a former Central African minister and leader of the armed group Military Coalition for the Salvation of the People and Reconstruction (CMSRP), was extradited to the Central African Republic on Monday, May 5, after being held for several months in Cameroon, police sources reported.
Sayo was arrested last January in Yaoundé, the Cameroonian capital, and handed over to Central African authorities following diplomatic negotiations between the two countries. His extradition marks a significant step forward in judicial cooperation between Bangui and Yaoundé.
Upon arrival in Bangui, the former rebel leader was taken into custody and brought before the public prosecutor to face criminal charges. He stands accused of orchestrating armed attacks against government forces in the northwestern part of the country.
The CMSRP, the armed movement led by Sayo, is regarded as one of the most active groups operating in this volatile region of the Central African Republic.