Central African Republic: Reports of truce following President’s resignation offer hope of peace

Rival militiamen yesterday struck a truce and hugged each other in neighborhoods of the Central African Republic’s (CAR) capital on the eve of consultations aimed at replacing the president who resigned under regional pressure.

The events reported by witnesses offered a glimmer of hope that weeks of deadly sectarian violence would end following the resignation on Friday of former president Michel Djotodia, the mainly Christian country’s first Muslim president who left to Benin on Saturday.

The situation in Bangui, the capital was calmer overnight on Saturday. Central African Republic Chief of Staff General Ferdinand Bomboyeke confirmed witness accounts of the laying down of arms, which he said occurred after a “deal obtained” by the rivals fighting for days in a southern part of Bangui called Bimbo.

It was the first scene of this kind in Bangui following weeks of bloody sectarian violence. The truce occurred after members of the International forces – including the African Union, in Bangui came to carry out a mediation effort, according to officials affiliated with the interim leadership.

The fighters “hugged each other. They asked for forgiveness as people cheered. The fighters from both sides re-opened checkpoints, allowing people in the area to travel about freely again.

The National Transition Council, or provisional parliament, said it will begin consultations today with politicians and civil society members in a bid to elect Djotodia’s successor. Council Speaker Alexandre-Ferdinand Nguendet is tasked with convening a special session of the parliament to elect a new temporary president.

Deputy Council Speaker Lea Koyassoum Doumta sketched out the criteria the new president must meet. “He must be someone who can unite the people of the Central African republic, restore security, ease tensions, put everybody back to work, and pave the way for free, democratic and transparent elections,” she said.

Source: Newswires