BANGUI: The Central African Republic’s new post-coup government vowed yesterday that it would get straight to work, as anger rose in South Africa over its military presence in the restive country.
Prime Minister Nicolas Tiangaye on Sunday named a 34-member cabinet that includes nine ministers from the Seleka rebel coalition which seized Bangui in a rapid-fire assault a week ago that left dozens of people dead including South African troops.
“We must get to work as soon as possible,” government spokesman Crepin Mboli Goumba said, adding that ministers would be sworn in this week. The new government includes eight ministers from the former opposition and one close to ousted president Francois Bozize, who fled the country after the coup.
Rebel leader Michel Djotodia, who named himself president after ousting Bozize, added the post of defence minister to his job titles. The latest coup in the chronically-unstable nation came after a January peace deal between Bozize’s regime and Djotodia’s rebels collapsed amid allegations the ousted leader had failed to honour the terms of the accord.
One rebel fighter welcomed the government. “It is a Seleka-opposition government. It is what we wanted. Bozize’s people have nothing to do with it.” However some opposition members were critical. “It is bogus. They wanted to please too many incompetent people. There are too many people in government for it to work,” one said.
After days of looting and chaos, rebel soldiers have largely secured the city with the aid of a regional African force, but looting and abuses continued in outlying areas. “We are busy securing the country but there are FACA (Central African Armed Forces) who have fled into the bush, there are Mbororo and bandits disguised as Seleka who are committing abuses,” said new Security Minister Nourendine Adam.
In South Africa, the main opposition Democratic Alliance said it will lodge a parliamentary motion to force the government to withdraw its troops from the Central African Republic after 13 soldiers died during the coup.
AFP
