Central African Republic’s neighbors agree to send military contingent to troubled country

[undeterred]

3. Revolution continues

Central African Republic rebels advance on Bangui

Rebels in the Central African Republic have made fresh gains and are now in control of a key central city, officials say. Forces from the Seleka rebel alliance have entered the town of Sibut after the army withdrew on Friday evening.

Meanwhile government officials have confirmed that their forces' attempt to retake Bambari on Friday had been beaten back. Rebel forces are now within 150km (95 miles) of the capital, Bangui.

President Francois Bozize has appealed to France, the United States and neighbouring countries for help to combat Seleka - an alliance of three separate groups who want the terms of an earlier peace deal to be honoured.

France and the US have refused, though more French troops arrived in Bangui from a base in Gabon, tasked with protecting French nationals and interests. More than 1,000 French nationals live in CAR, mainly working for mining companies.



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20865884

Background: The 2012 Central African Republic rebellion is an ongoing conflict between the Government of the Central African Republic and rebels, many of whom were previously involved in the Central African Republic Bush War. (According to Human Rights Watch, hundreds of civilians were killed, more than 10,000 houses burned, and approximately 212,000 persons fled their homes to live in desperate conditions deep in the bush in northern parts of the Central African Republic.) The rebels accuse the government of President François Bozizé of failing to abide by peace agreements signed since 2007.

Rebel forces calling themselves the "Seleka Coalition" captured many of the major towns in the central and eastern regions of the country. Chad sent troops to help the Bozizé government hold back a potential rebel advance on the capital, Bangui.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_Central_African_Republic_rebellion