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AU force recaptures CAR's Sibut from Seleka fighters

Iran Press TV

Sat Feb 1, 2014 5:22PM GMT

The African Union (AU) peacekeeping force deployed to the Central African Republic (CAR) says it has regained control of the town of Sibut from Seleka fighters.

General Tumenta Chomud, the commander of the AU force, known as MISCA, said that his troops had managed to recapture Sibut, located north of the capital, Bangui, on Friday, adding, "A Gabonese contingent from MISCA is in place in the town."

The African Union has deployed around 5,500 peacekeeping forces to the CAR.

Saturday's announcement came two days after Seleka fighters captured Sibut, which links the capital to the northern part of the African country. Violence in the strategic city forced hundreds of residents to flee into hiding.

The Central African Republic spiraled into chaos in March last year when Seleka fighters overthrew former president, Francois Bozize, and brought Michael Djotodia to power. Bozize fled the country after his ouster.

However, the country plunged into deadly violence when Christian militias launched coordinated attacks on the mostly Muslim Seleka group last month.

On December 5, 2013, France also invaded its former colony after the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution giving the African Union and France the go-ahead to send troops to the country. Paris has dispatched 1,600 troops to the CAR.

Earlier on Saturday, UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson called on the African leaders to "provide MISCA with the support required" during a regional meeting in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

On January 10, Djotodia stepped down under intense pressure over the government's failure to stem the deadly violence plaguing his country.

Catherine Samba Panza, the mayor of the restive capital Bangui was elected on January 20 as the interim president of the CAR. She has been tasked with restoring peace and bracing the violence-stricken country for elections later this year.

MKA/AB