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Central African Republic: President Michel Djotodia resigns
Former President of the Central African Republic, Michel Djotodia. PHOTO/Eric Feferberg/AFP/Getty Images
Central African Republic interim President Michel Djotodia has resigned along with his prime minister, regional officials announced.
On the streets of Bangui, the capital of Central African Republic, there was jubilation about the possibility that the challenging security situation might change.
There has been growing pressure for Djotodia to step aside. The resignation should help placate the armed militias who have used to violence to seek his ouster.
Ahmat Allami, the secretary-general of the Economic Community of Central African States, made the announcement following a summit in neighboring Chad on the crisis. Legislators from Central African Republic also were flown to the Chadian capital of N’Djamena on Thursday to take part in the discussions.
Djotodia’s departure leaves the country in the hands of a transitional government. Prime Minister Nicolas Tiangaye, a longtime opposition leader prior to the March 2013 coup, is also stepping aside, Allami said.
Under its charter, the national transitional council led by Alexandre Ferdinand Nguendet now has 15 days to choose another interim president to replace Djotodia.
Rumors of a Djotodia resignation had spread across the capital of Bangui this week, prompting the presidency to release a sharply worded denial. However, it had become clear in the past month that patience with Djotodia was waning within the regional community.
A frustrated Djotodia responded by saying no one could solve Central African Republic’s myriad of problems in just 8 months.
“I am not God, I hope. I am a man like you. And this country is vast – 623,000 square kilometers (387,000 square miles),” he told reporters. “You could bring an angel from the sky to govern this country and there would still be problems.”
The African Union now has some 4,000 peacekeepers in the country.
Source: Newswires