CAR Rebel Leaders Implicated In Election Violence Sacked From Govt

Four leaders of armed groups in the Central African Republic who were implicated in clashes intended to disrupt the conduct of the December 27, 2020 legislative and presidential elections have been relieved of their appointments in the national government.

Those sacked, who were all holding positions as Military Advisers in the Prime Minister’s Office in charge of the special mixed security unit are: Bi Sidi Souleymane based in the northwest zone of the country, Mahamat Hamat Alihissene of the centre-north zone and Ali Darassa of the northeast zone. 

All of them were appointed according to the dispositions of the peace accord signed in February 2019 between the government and fourteen armed groups.

A minister in the current government, Maxime Mokom, who held the position of Minister in charge of Disarmament, Demobilisation, Reintegration and Repatriation was also relieved of his functions.

 The sacked rebel leaders were against the holding of the legislative and presidential elections of December 27, 2020 and to realize their wishes, they participated in the formation of the Coalition of Patriots of Central Africa (CPC) which launched a number of attacks against several towns throughout the country with the intention of forcing the people to stay away from the polls.

Their fighters destroyed electoral materials as well as government edifices. They also looted property in several of the towns and villages they sacked.

During a meeting last Wednesday December  30, 2020, with Central African Republic’s international partners, the country’s Prime Minister, Firmin Ngrebada, spoke of possible measures to be taken against leaders of the armed groups who were signatories to the 2019 peace accord.

 He called for reflections on how those involved in the perturbation of the elections could be brought to justice.

The dismissals seem to be the first step towards setting the judicial option in motion.