Central African Republic Civil War

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Central African Republic Civil War
The Central African Republic
Date 2004– ongoing Location Central African Republic Result Merged into the Central African War
Combatants
UFDR rebels GAPLC MLCJ FDC	Central African Republic
Commanders
Michel Detodia (UFDR,[1] GAPLC[2] Abakar Saboune (MLCJ)[2] Justin Hassane (FDC)[2]	Francois Bozize
Strength
150+	4,500+
Casualties
3+	20+

The Central African Republic Civil War began with the rebellion by the Union of Democratic Forces for Unity (UFDR) rebels, lead by Michel Detodia, after the current president of the Central African Republic Francois Bozize seized power in a 2003 coup. However, the real fighting began in 2004.^[3] The Civil War may be connected to the Darfur conflict in neighbouring Sudan. The CAR government says the rebels are operating from Darfur with the support of the Sudanese authorities.^[4] So far, around 10,000 people have been displaced because of the civil unrest.^[1]

The UFDR consists of three allies, the Groupe d'action patriotique pour la liberation de Centrafrique (GAPLC), the Mouvement des libérateurs Centrafricains pour la justice (MLCJ), and the Front démocratique Centrafricain (FDC).^[2]

[edit] Timeline

In November 2004, at least 20 people were killed in a raid on the remote town of Birao in the north-east of the Central African Republic.^[3]

On October 29, 2006, a force of around 150 rebels took the town of Birao, which is close to the border with Sudan and Chad. The rebels from the UFDR movement say some government troops joined them, and others were taken prisoner. The CAR government accused Sudan of being behind that attack.^[5]

Thousands of people marched into the capital of the CAR, Bangui, on November 8, and pleaded for the government's troops to confront the UFDR.^[6] On November 10, 2006, the rebels claimed to have captured the town of Ouadda-Djallé after a two-week long offensive. A government spokesman confirmed rebel activity but not the town's capture.^[4] Twenty members of the government were killed, and only three of the rebels died in this attack.^[7] It was also confirmed that the UFDR had gained access to several armored vehicles, including a plane that landed in Birao earlier to bring supplies.^[6]

On November 13, 2006, a third town was seized by the UFDR, Sam-Ouandja, a town in the northern part of the CAR.^[8] Just three days later, claims stated that a forth town, Ouadda, had been captured by the rebels. When the 20,000 residents of the city heard that the UFDR was going to capture the town, between 5,000 and 10,000 of those people fled mostly to the neighboring cities of Bamabari and Bangui.^[9]

On November 17, Chad's parliament approved troop deployment to the CAR. ^[10] The CAR government appealed to the United Nations to send troops,^[7] and United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan called for the attacks in CAR's border with Darfur to end. ^[11] Chad's decision to deploy troops to the CAR came as hopes for deal with Sudan over peacekeeping forces in Darfur proved premature. ^[12][13]

The UFDR are reportedly planning to take over the city of Bria, though rumours also support an additional attack may occur in Ndele.^[6]

In late November, the civil war merged into a larger conflict, the Central African War, which invovles Chad, Sudan, and the CAR.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] See also

• Second Chadian Civil War
• Darfur conflict
• Central African War

[edit] References