Rebels advance in the Central African Republic: Bozize calls for help from France and Chad

Sunday, December 30th, 2012 | Filed under Africa,Central Africa,Europe,Geopolitics,Latest Articles,Military,World | Posted by

Rebels advance in the Central African Republic: Bozize calls for help from France and Chad

Pierre Leblanc and Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

Central_African_Republic

President Francois Bozize of the Central African Republic (CAR) is calling for help from France alongside regional support from Chad in order to stem the advance of rebels. Yet currently it appears that France is ignoring Bozize. At the same time, the military contingent from Chad which entered the CAR seems limited but this could change depending on the deteriorating situation and if outside pressure is put on this nation to do more.

The rebels are threatening to launch a military offensive against Bangui which is the capital of this nation unless Bozize enters serious talks. While the situation is very different in the CAR, Democratic Republic of Congo and Mali, it is clear that rebel movements can threaten the nation state very quickly. This chaos is creating fresh regional tensions and highlighting the weakness of the centralized state within all the above mentioned nations.

America has taken precautionary measures by evacuating its embassy. After the events in Libya where several American personnel were killed, then clearly the Obama government doesn’t want to be caught out again. Obviously the situation is very different between Libya and the CAR but the speed of events is causing alarm.

In the early period the rebels quickly took towns like Ouadda, Ndele and Sam Ouandja. However, the seriousness of the crisis became known when Bria was taken easily. This area is known for diamond mining. Since the initial period the rebels have now advanced onto Bambari which is the third most powerful city in the CAR.

The seriousness of the crisis means that the African Union (AU) head will arrive in the CAR in order to try to iron out some form of dialogue between Bozize and the rebels. Bozize, clearly unnerved by the situation, is now reported to be open to talks with the rebels. Yet, given the “changing sands” on the ground and the current lack of response internationally, then it may be that the rebels feel emboldened by such inaction.

Thomas Boni Yayi according to the AU will discuss many important points and somehow try to bring both parties together in order to negotiate. The rebels are collectively known under the name of Seleka and one of their main pre-conditions is that Bozize is open to political dialogue. Apparently, both sides will meet despite no timetable being set in stone.

Rebel forces have now entered Sibut and once more the forces of Bozize appear to either be invisible or they are uninterested in challenging the current rebel advance. Clearly the situation is confusing and the morale of forces under Bozize appears to be wafer thin. This in itself shows that his hand is very weak without outside forces propping him up under the current prevailing conditions.

Government forces may be digging in around Damara which is approximately 75km from the capital of the CAR. Yet it would appear that the fate of Bozize rests with Chad. In this sense, it may well be that Chad is seeking talks with the rebels in order to fully understand their political motives in the long-term.

Bozize is known to have appealed to “our French cousins” and asked America “to help us to push back the rebels.” Yet, while France is involving itself in the destabilization of Syria just like this nation helped to overthrow the former leader of Libya; it appears that France is intent on staying on the sidelines in the CAR.

Francois Hollande, the President of France, stated that “If we have a presence, it’s not to protect a regime, it’s to protect our nationals and our interests and in no way to intervene in the internal business of a country, in this case the Central African Republic…Those days are over.”

Of course, Hollande is stating this while supporting the destabilization of Syria therefore very little honesty coming from his words. Yet, when it comes to the CAR it may well be true. Therefore, it appears that Chad is the last hope for Bozize because government troops seem brittle without having any nation to back them up.

leejay@moderntokyotimes.com

http://moderntokyotimes.com

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