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Rebels gain in Central African Republic (where?)
Geography quiz time!The government of the Central African Republic has sent troops from its Congolese allies to stop a rebel advance on the CAR's second largest military base. Some 1,000 troops from the Congolese rebel group, the Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC), have recently arrived in the CAR capital, Bangui. Question #1: where the heck is this place? And don't cheat because the link has a map. The BBC's Joseph Benamse in Bangui says that some of these have already been sent to the base at Bouar, while others are preparing to go to Bozoum, which rebels loyal to former army chief Francois Bozize recently recaptured. Question #2: True or false: Every city in the Central African Republic has a name that begins with a 'B'. President Ange-Felix Patasse has meanwhile repeated a call for former colonial power France to send troops into CAR, as it has done in the Ivory Coast conflict. If you look at the photo of this guy at the link, he's got the pasty, worried look of a dictator whose time is about to arrive. Rebels control some 70% of CAR territory and our correspondent says that supplies of the staple food, cassava, are running low in Bangui as most of the agricultural areas are in rebel hands. Question #3: what the heck is cassava, and just how hungry do you have to be to eat it? He also says that residents of the capital are worried about their relatives, as they cannot travel to rebel-controlled areas. Mr Patasse had said that the MLC troops backing him up would be withdrawn after they were accused of killing, raping and looting by Bangui residents when putting down a rebel attack near the capital last year. Question #4: True or false: having your allies' troops kill, rape and loot is a good way to keep the civilian population on your side. But he wants French troops to hold back the rebel advance, as they have done in Ivory Coast. "There are French soldiers in Ivory Coast. So why not CAR? It's discrimination... I am asking that France send us soldiers, too," he said. This only works when Al Sharpton does it. France has previously intervened in several CAR conflicts but its last troops left Bangui in 1998. In a bid to calm tensions, Mr Bozize has been granted exile in France, together, reportedly, with the former CAR President, Andre Kolingba. Perhaps Mr. Patasse will be joining them shortly. Posted by: Steve White 2003-02-06 |
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