By RFIPublished on 12/22/2019 Modified on 12/22/2019 at 12:12 AM

Thousands of supporters cheered on former President François Bozizé today, Saturday December 21, in Bangui, the Central African capital. For his first public appearance since his return from exile earlier this week, the ex-general participated in a meeting of his party, the Kwa Na Kwa (National Convergence, KNK), on a soccer field near the Bangui Airport.

Former President François Bozizé has not appeared before his fellow Central Africans since his overthrow in 2013. The cheering crowd wanted to see him, and they saw him. Not sure, however, that she heard him, the shouts of joy and the horns making any speech inaudible. It was good. François Bozizé did not intend to be heard. In the back of a pickup truck, he greeted his Sango-speaking supporters, but did not make a big speech.

According to a good source, the former head of state had hesitated to go to this meeting. His spokesmen had even announced that he would not participate in any rally on his return until he had met President Touadéra. As one of them explained, " when you arrive in a village, you start by greeting the chief ".

Reclaiming power through the ballot box

Except that the former general, who arrived in Bangui a week ago , is starting to find the time long. How long will he have to work his brakes, he who returned to the Central African Republic in the hope of regaining power through the ballot box?

No question for him, however, to embark at this stage in the fray. He returned to Bangui, according to his relatives, in a spirit of peace and national reconciliation.

► Listen again: should François Bozizé and the exiles return to the Central African Republic?

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