Rebel fighters attack before election results announced
BANGUI: Rebel fighters in Central African Republic (CAR) attacked and partially occupied a diamond-mining town on Sunday, four security and humanitarian sources said, a day before authorities are due to declare results of the presidential election.
At least five rebels were killed and two army soldiers wounded in the clashes in Bangassou, which lies on the southern border with Democratic Republic of Congo, the UN peacekeeping mission Munisca said in a statement.
Rebels, whom the government and UN say are backed by ex-president Francois Bozize, launched an offensive last month after the constitutional court rejected Mr Bozize’s candidacy to challenge President FaustinArchange Touadera in last Sunday’s vote.
Mr Bozize’s party officially denies he is working with the rebels, but some in the party have suggested they are working together.
After hours of fighting on Sunday, CPC (Coalition of Patriots for Change) fighters had entered Bangassou by late afternoon, the sources told Reuters, although it was not clear to what extent they were in control of the town.
Two of the sources said army soldiers had taken refuge at the Munisca base in Bangassou.
An army spokesman said he did not have information about the situation in Bangassou. A Munisca spokesman was not immediately available for comment.
In its statement earlier in the day, Munisca said the rebels attacked Bangassou at about 5.30am CAR time and that its peacekeepers had intervened in support of the army.
It said the fighting had let up at about 10am but that the situation remained “tense”.
The CPC also attacked Mr Touadera’s hometown of Damara, about 80 kilometres north of the capital Bangui on Saturday, Munisca said.
Threats and attacks by the rebels kept more than 14% of polling stations closed on election day. Complete results were expected yesterday.
The country descended into chaos in 2013 when mostly Muslim rebels ousted Mr Bozize, sparking reprisals from mostly Christian militias.
Mr Bozize’s candidacy was rejected because he f aces an arrest warrant and UN sanctions for allegedly ordering assassinations and torture while president.
Mr Bozize has denied those charges.