The Central African Armed Forces (CAAF) will continue their offensive against rebels, Ange-Maxime Kazagui, a spokesman for the Central African Republic (CAR) government said on January 27.
Rebel groups, which are allied within the Coalition of Patriots for Change, have been attempting to take over the capital, Bangui, for a few days now. The rebels want to overthrow the newly-elected president, Faustin Archange Touadéra.
Speaking to a local radio station, Kazagui said that government forces will not stop their operations against the rebels until they lay down their arms.
On January 25, the CAAF and its allies, Russian advisers and Rwandan troops, repelled a large rebel on Bangui. At least 44 anti-government fighters were killed. The government said many of them were mercenaries from Chad, Sudan and the Fulani.
“Government forces are back on the offensive,” Kazagui told the France Press Agency.
Government forces maintain an upper hand thanks to the support of Russian advisers, Rwandan troops and the United Nations Mission in the CAR, commonly known as MINURCA.
On January 27, CCAF troops backed up by units from MINURCA recaptured the northern cities of Boyali and Boda from the rebels. Despite this progress, the situation in the CAR remains unstable.
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- On January 28, CAR forces repelled an attack by rebels in the outskirts of Bangui city, according to the Minister of Public Security.
- As of January 28, at least 60,000 people fled to neighboring countries, according to the United Nations refugee agency.
According to recent reports, Russia may soon send more military advisers to the CAR. This step could help to secure the capital and improve the overall situation in the country.
