Central African Republic
Central African rebels impede humanitarian aid

afrol News, 8 January - The rebel troops in firm control of northern parts of the Central African Republic are impeding aid to over 5000 internally displaced people in the area. The frontline between Bangui government troops and the rebels under former army chief of staff, Francois Bozize, seems to be stable, although there are rumours of rebel advances.

The World Food Programme (WFP) yesterday reported it remained "unable to reach almost 5,400 internally displaced persons" that needed emergency aid. The failure to start distributing aid was "due to insecurity in the northern part of the country," the UN agency reported, and "virtually no information" was available from the affected area.

However, the UN system was currently negotiating access to rebel-controlled areas with Mr Bozize's troops. A planned mission included visiting Kabo and Batangafo areas to assess the needs of the displaced persons. "WFP intends to resume assistance as soon as access is granted," the agency said, indicating that Mr Bozize's rebels had refused to "grant" access earlier.

After the coup attempt in October last year, when Mr Bozize's armed troops reached Bangui after entering the country from Chad, rebels have been driven northwards by government and allied foreign troops. The rebels however have managed to establish firm control of most of the northern parts of the Central African Republic, especially along the Chadian border.

An alliance of regional troops has assisted the Bangui government in protecting the capital, its outskirts and the important River Bangui waterway. After the frontline has been stable for a longer time, there are "persistent reports" that rebels recently have captured the town of Bozoum, less than 400 kilometres north of Bangui. According to unconfirmed reports, government troops are now heading towards the town in an attempt to retake it.

The Congo Kinshasa MLC rebel group MLC, in control of much of the Congolese north, is assisting the Central African government of Angé-Felix Patassé in its fight against the Bozize rebels. President Patassé is a personal friend of MLC leader Jean-Piérre Bemba. There are an estimated 1000 MLC fighters in the country, along with smaller contingents of regular troops from Libya, Sudan, Djibouti and Gabon. The MLC troops are however planning to withdraw within short time, after massive looting complaints by Bangui residents.

Mr Bozize's Central African rebel troops are reported to number only a few hundreds. There are however many indications the rebels are massively supported by the Chadian government and armed men from that country - something persistently denied in N'djamena.

Meanwhile, the situation in the Central African capital is reported to be calm and relatively secure. The massive displacement and destructions during last year's coup attempt and fighting are largely overcome. Still, many Bangui residents depend on foreign aid.

The WFP reports that the improved security situation in the southern part of Bangui now had allowed the agency to resume food distributions. Over 44,000 vulnerable people affected by armed conflict had received 226 tons of food in Bangui during the month of January.

- WFP assistance is meant to support these displaced households during their resettlement in southern neighbourhoods of Bangui, the agency said yesterday. Food had been distributed entirely to women, for themselves and their families.

Sources: Based on WFP sources and afrol archives

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