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(Special for CAFS) CAR former rebel Seleka releases members of official delegation

Xinhua, January 27, 2015 Adjust font size:

Central African Republic (CAR) former rebel coalition Seleka handed over to UN peacekeeping troops the governor of northern Nana-Grebizi Division and members of an official delegation from capital Bangui whom they had detained on Sunday.

The People's Front for Revival of CAR, a party established in November last year by a faction of former rebel Seleka, claimed to have "arrested" Nana-Grebizi Division Governor Gaston Yendemo, Mbres Sub-Division (sub-division of Nana-Grebizi division) chief Thomas Ndoumete and Kaga-Bandoro city (capital of Nana-Grebizi division) mayor Patrice Abacar to express their opposition to the three's presence in that area which is controlled by Seleka.

Seleka also detained 8 members of an official delegation, including the bodyguards of ministers of planning and tourism who arrived by road.

The People's Front for Revival of CAR spokeman colonel Juma Narkoto told Xinhua on phone, "The detainees were handed over this morning (Monday) to United Nations Integrated Mission for Multidimensional Stabilization of the CAR (MINUSCA)."

Public Security Minister Nicaise Karnou confirmed this information to Xinhua, "They were released about 10 a.m. (9 a.m. GMT) on Monday."

The minister said the delegation went to the north for the consultation at the base. The program is organized by the transitional government to have consultations in the 16 divisions and neighboring countries in order to hold the Forum for National Reconciliation.

The People's Front for Revival of CAR leaders called Gaston Yendemo, Thomas Ndoumete and Patrice Abacar persona non-grata in the area.

Narkoto said, "The situation is not normalized. Why the authorities decided to send people to work at the base? How we work with them?"

The incident was made public Monday as the CAR authorities is still working to secure the release of Minister of Youth and Sports Armel Ningatoloum who was kidnapped Sunday by armed men.

A civil war in CAR broke out on Dec. 10, 2012 between Seleka rebel coalition and government forces. Seleka took power from the then president Francois Bozize in March 2013 and the rebel's leader Michel Djotodia declared himself as president.

Elected provisional president by a National Transitional Council in April 2013, Djotodia was forced to quit power in January 2014 amid worsening violence between Christian anti-balaka group and Muslim Seleka. Catherine Samba-Panza was elected as provisional president by the National Transitional Council and is in power since then. Enditem