CAR: Security Forces Killed At Least 44 Rebels Who Surrounded Capital Bangui

The Central African Republic (CAR) government on Monday said the security forces have killed 44 rebel fighters who tried to block the capital, Bangui, in an attempt to overthrow the new administration, reported The BBC.

The rebels are protesting President Faustin-Archange Touadéra’s re-election last month. President Touadera was re-elected in the first round of the presidential election held last month. He secured 53 percent of votes cast by 35 percent of registered voters.

Notably, there have been violent clashes in the country even before the election was held. An alliance of armed groups, known as the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC), launched attacks ahead of the December voting. Former President Francois Bozize and his allies have been accused of inciting the violence, which erupted after the constitutional court rejected his candidacy for the presidential election.

Bozize, who ruled until 2013, faces an international arrest warrant for crimes against humanity and incitement of genocide. He also faces U.N. sanctions for his alleged role in supporting the militia groups that resisted Seleka rebels in 2013.

The rebel groups attacked and destroyed voting materials in several voting stations in CAR that prevented people from voting in many polling stations. They attacked voters and barred electoral staff from working.

Earlier this month, rebel groups opposed to Touadera’s re-election tried to invade Bangui, but security forces backed by U.N. peacekeepers repelled the attack.

The CAR government declared a state of emergency on January 22 to fight the rebels, who control two-thirds of the country. The army is also supported by forces from Rwanda, Russia, France, and the United Nations in its battle against the rebels.

According to the UN agency children’s Unicef, at least 100,000 civilians have been displaced from their homes since December due to the fighting. At least five civilians had been killed in the violence.