Aaron Wilibona
Aaron Wilibona | |
|---|---|
| Born | Central African Republic |
| Other names | Ouilibona, Coxis |
| Occupation(s) | Politician, Military leader |
| Known for | Leadership in Anti-balaka movement; suspected involvement in death of journalist Camille Lepage |
Aaron Wilibona—also known as Ouilibona and by the alias "Coxis"—is a former Central African political figure and military leader within the Anti-balaka movement, suspected of involvement in the death of French journalist Camille Lepage.
Life
Wilibona is related to former president François Bozizé as his cousin and is the younger sibling of Maxime Mokom. Throughout the administrations of Patassé and Bozizé, he held the position of chief of staff for two different ministers. In the 2005 Central African general election, he secured a seat in the National Assembly, representing Bangui’s 8th arrondissement with 7,508 votes, which accounted for 40.44% of the total, as a candidate for the Kwa Na Kwa party. By 2009, Wilibona had risen to become President of the Kwa Na Kwa parliamentary faction.
Reports from September 2010 described Wilibona as moving throughout Bangui while armed with a submachine gun and interacting with mercenary forces. In 2011, he took on the role of director of cabinet at the Ministry of Public Health.
Civil war
Amidst the Central African Republic Civil War, Wilibona aligned himself with the Anti-balaka militias. In January 2014, alongside Rochael Mokom, known as ‘Colonel Rocco,’ he reportedly seized control over the border crossing at Cantonnier/Béloko. By late April that year, specifically on the 28th, he was commanding Anti-balaka troops operating between Cantonnier and Bouar. Accused of involvement in the killing of French journalist Camille Lepage in May 2014, Wilibona was detained by Central African authorities. However, on 7 July 2015, he escaped from Ngaragba prison in Bangui and fled to Garoua-Boulaï, Cameroon. His escape was allegedly facilitated by his lawyer, Raymond Ndakala. Subsequently, on 5 September 2015, Wilibona returned to Berbérati accompanied by eight Anti-balaka combatants.
Aftermath
On 12 September 2020, Cameroonian border and air police apprehended him upon his return from Bangui and placed him in pre-trial detention at Kondengui prison. He is accused of fraudulently acquiring 481 million CFA francs held across several bank accounts.