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| East/Subsaharan Africa |
| Rebels gain in Central African Republic (where?) |
| 2003-02-06 |
| 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 Mr Patasse had said that the MLC troops backing him up would be withdrawn after they were accused of killing, raping and looting by Bangui residents when putting down a rebel attack near the capital last year.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 |
| #7 Bohunk... |
| Posted by: mojo 2003-02-07 01:28:30 |
| #6 I remember - their necks were supported by intricate systems of added gold rings, yet they couldn't figure that a simple bra would keep their breasts off their knees, right? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-02-06 22:31:58 |
| #5 Emperor "Freddy"? His name was Bokassa. Apparently it's not just the towns of the C.A.R. that always begin with B. The place was known as Ubangi-Shari (spelling may differ) before independence, when it was a French colony. The Ubangi tribe was once famous for its women's jewelry. You've probably seen pictures. They wore (still wear?) multiple metal rings around their necks and add more from time to time until their necks were stretched so far that they couldn't hold their heads up without the rings. The C.A.R. is kind of wrapped around the northwest corner of the Congo. (The big Congo that was once known as Zaire, not the other Congo.) I think it's also the next country south of Chad. No, I didn't have to look any of that up. I'm a geography buff from way back. |
| Posted by: Dr. Weevil 2003-02-06 20:55:43 |
| #4 I want France to get involved anywhere death, destruction, misery, and dishonor are likely outcomes. |
| Posted by: paj 2003-02-06 20:01:36 |
| #3 Personally I would love to see the French get involved and help out with some of the heavy lifting in the world. Europe can handle all of Africa if they want. |
| Posted by: Yank 2003-02-06 17:16:56 |
| #2 Question #2: True or false: Every city in the Central African Republic has a name that begins with a 'B'. Ah... (ahem) urr... 42? |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-02-06 16:09:29 |
| #1 The French have been in and out of there over the years, as have the Libyans. Under the Emperor, cannibal feasts were not uncommon at the palace.
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| Posted by: Chuck 2003-02-06 15:26:12 |