Central African Republic’s neighbors agree to send military contingent to troubled country

[undeterred]

Source: The Washington Post

Updated: Friday, December 28, 6:21 PM

BANGUI, Central African Republic — Officials from Central African Republic’s neighbors say they have agreed to dispatch a contingent of soldiers to intervene in the troubled country.

Representatives from the 10-nation Economic Community of Central African States meeting in Gabon, though, did not specify how many troops they could contribute.

President Francois Bozize had pleaded for international help Thursday as fears grew that the rebels would attack the capital of 600,000 next.

Former colonial power France already has said that its forces in the country are there to protect French interests and not Bozize’s government.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/central-african-republic-calls-for-foreign-help-fighting-rebels-but-no-sign-of-major-help/2012/12/27/abbba37c-508f-11e2-835b-02f92c0daa43_story.html

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The US and other embassies have already evacuated their diplomatic staff... this is going to be a bloodbath for the African people who cannot leave the country.

[undeterred]

1. More info at this link...

U.S. evacuates embassy in Central African Republic

American officials said about 40 people were evacuated on an U.S. air force plane bound for Kenya. The officials spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the details of the operation. The evacuation came after President François Bozize called on former colonial ruler France and other foreign powers to help his government fend off rebels who are quickly seizing territory and approaching the capital.

The U.N.’s most powerful body condemned the recent violence and expressed concern about the developments. “The members of the Security Council reiterate their demand that the armed groups immediately cease hostilities, withdraw from captured cities and cease any further advance toward the city of Bangui,” the statement said.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said it was working to provide displaced people with water, sanitary facilities, and other necessities, and called on rebel and government forces to spare civilians. It said it had withdrawn eight staff for security reasons, but that 14 foreign staff remained in the country.

Central African Republic has a history of violent change in government. The current president himself came to power nearly a decade ago in the wake of a rebellion in this resource-rich yet deeply poor country. Average income is barely $2 a day.

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/1307818--americans-evacuate-embassy-staff-from-central-african-republic



I spent a summer there many years ago. Its a very beautiful country, sparsely populated. Its the poorest country in Africa.

[Lucky Luciano]

2. That would be a pretty cool passport stamp to get.

I live to go off the beaten path. Africa, so far, has been my favorite way to do that with Patagonia s close second. Of course, I have yet to trek in Siberia and other parts of Central Asia!

[undeterred]

3. Revolution continues

Central African Republic rebels advance on Bangui

Rebels in the Central African Republic have made fresh gains and are now in control of a key central city, officials say. Forces from the Seleka rebel alliance have entered the town of Sibut after the army withdrew on Friday evening.

Meanwhile government officials have confirmed that their forces' attempt to retake Bambari on Friday had been beaten back. Rebel forces are now within 150km (95 miles) of the capital, Bangui.

President Francois Bozize has appealed to France, the United States and neighbouring countries for help to combat Seleka - an alliance of three separate groups who want the terms of an earlier peace deal to be honoured.

France and the US have refused, though more French troops arrived in Bangui from a base in Gabon, tasked with protecting French nationals and interests. More than 1,000 French nationals live in CAR, mainly working for mining companies.



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20865884

Background: The 2012 Central African Republic rebellion is an ongoing conflict between the Government of the Central African Republic and rebels, many of whom were previously involved in the Central African Republic Bush War. (According to Human Rights Watch, hundreds of civilians were killed, more than 10,000 houses burned, and approximately 212,000 persons fled their homes to live in desperate conditions deep in the bush in northern parts of the Central African Republic.) The rebels accuse the government of President François Bozizé of failing to abide by peace agreements signed since 2007.

Rebel forces calling themselves the "Seleka Coalition" captured many of the major towns in the central and eastern regions of the country. Chad sent troops to help the Bozizé government hold back a potential rebel advance on the capital, Bangui.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_Central_African_Republic_rebellion

[undeterred]

4. Central African Republic rebels threaten to enter capital - US SPECIAL FORCES

By Ange Aboa

BANGUI, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Rebels in Central African Republic could enter the capital Bangui as early as "tonight, or tomorrow morning" if President Francois Bozize refuses their conditions for peace talks, a rebel spokesman said on Sunday. The three-week-old Seleka rebellion has advanced to within 75 km (45 miles) of Bangui, posing the most serious threat yet to Bozize's nearly 10 years in charge of the turbulent and resource-rich former French colony. African Union Chairman Thomas Yayi Boni is due to meet Bozize on Sunday to lay the groundwork for peace talks in Gabon with Seleka, an alliance of three armed groups that accuses Bozize of failing to honour a 2007 deal under which members who laid down their guns were meant to be paid.

snip

FEARING THE WORST
Residents in the ramshackle riverside capital have either fled or stockpiled food and water in their homes in preparation for a rebel onslaught. The streets of the city were largely deserted on Sunday morning save for military patrols and a trickle of churchgoers. Youths carrying machetes had set up makeshift barricades along main roads during a driving ban imposed overnight. "There is a great deal of fear here now, and people are hiding their belongings and seeking safety," said Genael Dongonbo, a student at Bangui University who hails from the northern town of Bambari. "I'd also like to leave, but I have no money and the rebels have already seized my town."

With a government that holds little sway outside the capital, some parts of the country have long endured the consequences of conflicts spilling over from troubled neighbours Chad, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Central African Republic is one of a number of countries in the region where U.S. Special Forces are helping local forces try to track down the Lord's Resistance Army, a rebel group which has killed thousands of civilians across four nations. Regional neighbours agreed on Friday to send more troops to shore up CAR's army after a string of defeats this month, and after French President Francois Hollande rejected a plea for Western military help made by Bozize last week.

The Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS)already has more than 500 peacekeepers in CAR. Officials did not say how many more would be added or when they would arrive. The United States said on Thursday it had closed its embassy in Bangui and evacuated its staff. The United States said on Thursday it had closed its embassy in Bangui and evacuated its staff.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/30/car-rebels-idUSL5E8NU1M320121230