Central African Republic rebels seize hotel, set up government
Five- star Ledger Plaza Bangui converted to temporary base
BANGUI — Rebel fighters in the Central African Republic seized the presidential palace when they overtook the capital in March, though when it came to setting up shop they set their sights a bit loftier: the city’s sole luxury hotel.
With no advance reservation, rebels armed with rocket- propelled grenades and Kalashnikov rifles have turned the five- star Ledger Plaza Bangui into the temporary seat of government. And rebel leader Michel Djotodia is giving new meaning to the term presidential suite: His luxury villa behind the drained swimming pool has a listed rate of about $ 3,850 a night.
Here, the heavily armed rebels stand guard inside a thatched hut pool bar, and those fresh from the battlefield limp past businessmen in traditional embroidered robes and diplomats who come to meet with the man who now rules mineral- rich Central African Republic.
There’s the fever of an inauguration weekend in Washington — only with truckloads full of turbaned rebel forces in the parking lot donning ammunition belts.
“They came in from the villages and they are really excited about being in the big city and seeing what they can collect and capture and loot,” one international aid worker said on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals from armed rebels.
It’s a rare uptick in business for the posh hotel that opened in September, just months before the volatile capital descended into chaos.
Before the rebels took over the city, the Ledger was most famous for being the place where ex- president Francois Bozize’s son ran up a $ 15,000 bill. Bozize had his son arrested over the unpaid hotel bill.
The ex- president went into exile March 24, after the rebels breached the capital and as fierce fighting across Bangui left an untold number of civilians dead.
The guests, from the rebel alliance known as Seleka, arrived in the days of the invasion and it’s not clear how long they’ll be staying, said the hotel’s general manager Steven Hameeuw.
The exact financial arrangements between the hotel and its rebel guests are unclear.
Hotel staff keep life humming at the only place in town with 24- 7 electricity, running hot water and high- speed Internet.
Out front, pickup trucks full of armed rebels head out for daily patrols. Other fighters sprawl out on the grassy lawn in the sweltering heat.
On one recent afternoon, hotel staff could be seen installing a metal detector at the hotel’s main entrance.
“They’re asking the rebels to keep their weapons outside,” one hotel security guard said on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals by the armed rebels. “They don’t want to scare the other guests.”