Reports from Central African Republic indicate the Bozize government will on Sunday begin removing rebels from villages and towns they have occupied since December, the commander of the multinational African force FOMAC said on Saturday.
Jean-Felix Akaga told a press conference that the operation’s aim was to round up rebels and allow civilians to “circulate freely”. It would start in the central regions of Bria and Kaga, he said.
Despite a peace deal agreed between Seleka rebels and the Central African government last month, rebels have maintained their often violent control of the towns they took control of at the start of an offensive on 10 December.
In an emotive message on Saturday, bishops from Central African Republic’s Church called for roads to be reopened to allow people to escape “suffocation”.
“…People are dying of hunger. They are suffocating, they don’t have any fuel or food products, or basic medicines, and telephone communications need to be restored,” they said.
AFP
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