(Vatican Radio) The spectre of conflict has returned to the Central African Republic
where today the Seleka rebel coalition seized control of the capital Bangui, forcing
President Francois Bozize to flee into neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.
Senior government officials confirmed the rebels had captured the city of more
than 600,000 people, which lies on the banks of the Oubangi river bordering Democratic
Republic of Congo. Residents reported widespread looting of homes and businesses.
At
least nine South African peace-keeping soldiers were killed trying to prevent the
rebel advance. Seleka resumed hostilities this week, vowing to oust Bozize. The rebels,
involved in an on-off rebellion since December, say Bozize failed to honour a January
peace deal to integrate them into the regular army. The violence is the latest
in a series of rebel incursions, clashes and coups that have plagued the landlocked
nation - which has rich deposits of gold, diamonds and uranium – since its independence
from France in 1960.
France is sending more troops to the Central African
Republic. A statement from the French president's office gave no details of troop
numbers, but said President Francois Hollande had spoken with United Nations Secretary-General
Ban Ki-Moon and Chadian President Idriss Deby and repeated his plea for restraint
and dialogue between all parties.