| Central African Republic Bush War | |||||||
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The town of Birao in northern CAR which was largely burnt down during fighting in 2007 |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| UFDR rebels APRD rebels CPJP rebels FDPC rebels MLCJ rebels |
Central African Republic Chad MINURCAT MICOPAX (CEEAC) |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Michel Detodia (UFDR,[1] GAPLC[2]) Abakar Sabon (MLCJ)[2] Justin Hassane (FDC)[2] |
François Bozizé José Victor da Silva Ângelo |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 150+ | 4,500+ | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Civilian casualties: Hundreds killed, 212,000 displaced[3] |
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The Central African Republic Bush War [4] began with the rebellion by the Union of Democratic Forces for Unity (UFDR) rebels, led by Michel Detodia, after the current President of the Central African Republic, François Bozizé, seized power in 2003. However, the real fighting began in 2004.[5] The Civil War may be connected to the Darfur conflict in neighbouring Sudan. 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] The group signed a peace agreement with the government in April 2007.[6]
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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.[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.[7] Twenty members of the government were killed, and only three of the rebels died in this attack.[8] 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.[7]
On November 13, 2006, a third town was seized by the UFDR, Sam-Ouandja, a town in the northern part of the CAR.[9] Just three days later, claims stated that a fourth 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.[10]
The UFDR are reportedly planning to take over the city of Bria, though rumours also support an additional attack may occur in Ndele.[7]
In December 2006, Chadian troops in three army trucks attacked Bémal, located next to Bétoko, firing randomly at the population and taking 32 cows from the village, as well as farming implements and sacks of peanuts.[11]
On April 13, 2007, a peace agreement between the government and the UFDR was signed in Birao. The agreement provides for an amnesty for the UFDR, its recognition as a political party, and the integration of its fighters into the army.[6]
According to the Human Rights Watch (HRW), hundreds of civilians have been killed, more than 10,000 houses burned, and approximately 212,000 persons have fled their homes to live in desperate conditions deep in the bush in northern Central African Republic.[3]
Further negotiations resulted in an agreement in 2008 for reconciliation, a unity government, and local elections in 2009 and parliamentary and presidential elections in 2010;[12] the new government was formed in January 2009.[13]
| “ | In every case of rebellion, there are abuses, I cannot deny that, there are abuses. | ” |
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—CAR President François Bozizé[14] |
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