French diplomat 'had an endless parade' of young African women visit his official residence for sex'

Published: 09:21, 13 August 2026 | Updated: 09:22, 13 August 2026 One of France's most senior diplomats is under investigation for inviting 'an endless parade' of African women into his official residence for sex. Bruno Foucher, 65 and the Ambassador to the Central African Republic, regularly hosted the young ladies – aged between 20 and 30 – overnight at the embassy in Bangui, capital of the CAR. This was 'in defiance of security protocols', reports the latest edition of Le Canard enchaîné [The Chained Duck], the Paris investigative magazine. It reports that at least 30 women passed through Mr Foucher's doors between January 2024 and March 2026 alone. This raised concerns at the highest level, particularly because of Russian influence in CAR. On the advice of the French overseas secret service, the French foreign Ministry opened an enquiry into Mr Foucher's sex life last year, and it is still ongoing. The magazine reports: 'This endless parade of female visitors eventually raised alarms among the elite GIGN gendarmes deployed in Bangui to secure the diplomatic compound.' The GIGN is France's elite tactical intervention group, tasked with protecting overseas officials and diplomatic missions, as well as carrying out anti-terrorist missions. A French Foreign Ministry spokesman confirmed the Canard report, saying: 'At the ministry's initiative, an administrative inquiry was conducted in Bangui in 2026. Bruno Foucher, 65 and the Ambassador to the Central African Republic, regularly hosted the young ladies – aged between 20 and 30 – overnight at the embassy in Bangui, capital of the CAR This was 'in defiance of security protocols', reports the latest edition of Le Canard enchaîné [The Chained Duck], the Paris investigative magazine 'Upon receipt of the mission's findings, and at the Foreign Minister's request, the Ministry initiated disciplinary proceedings against the Ambassador. These proceedings are ongoing.' Le Canard enchaîne's investigators have seen the official report into the scandal, and it states that Mr Foucher has admitted to sex with at least two of the women, who were local Africans. He is also said to have allowed one of the women to stay in his residence while he was away carrying out official duties. Mr Foucher, who continues in his job, faces dismissal from the foreign service, or a severe reprimand. He has not commented publicly on the scandal. He is a career diplomat who joined France's foreign service after a studying at ENA, the country's elite administrative school. Wagner – the Russian paramilitary group – has a sizeable presence in CAR, where it helps ensure the security of President Faustin-Archange Touadéra. Touadéra is known to be in receipt of cash from Moscow, and it is used to finance his election campaigns. Paris regularly accuses Russia of stoking hostility towards western countries including France in CAR, mainly through disinformation campaigns on social media. Relations between France and CAR have improved since 2024, however, and in March French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot visited the African country. It was the first high-level French visit to CAR since 2018, and Mr Barrot spoke of 'a full restoration of relations'.