One year before the presidential election scheduled for the end of 2020, his return could redraw the political landscape in the Central African Republic. After the coup that overthrew him in 2013 and six years of exile, ex-president François Bozizé returned to the country, his party and those close to him announced on Monday 16 December.
"Since yesterday, I can tell you in the most solemn way: François Bozizé is indeed in the Central African capital", launched before the press Bertin Béa, the secretary general of Kwa na Kwa (KNK), the training policy of the former head of state. Information confirmed by our colleagues from RFI.
"In the coming days, François Bozizé will speak to address his compatriots," says Bertin Béa. "In the meantime, don't ask me how he got there or where he is," he says. Security Question".
"This announcement does not seem credible to me," reacted government spokesman Maxime-Ange Kazagui, however.
The deposed president has never hidden his intention to seek to regain power by the ballot box. His return seems to be dictated by his desire to respect the electoral code, which stipulates that the presidential candidates of December 2020 must be on the national territory at least one year before the election.
François Bozizé still enjoys great influence in a country which he led from 2003, after a coup, to 2013. A period marked by two civil wars.
The second, in 2013, finally brought about its downfall. After years of instability and poor governance, the Seleka, a coalition of rebel armed groups from the north and east, disbanded the regular army and founded Bangui.
His South African armed guard shatters and François Bozizé must flee the capital. The leader of the Seleka, Michel Djotodia, replaces him.
Spiral of intercommunity violence
After his departure, the Central African Republic quickly sank into a spiral of intercommunity violence, triggering the Sangaris operation of the French army in December 2013.
And, from neighboring Cameroon where he is welcomed by President Paul Biya, François Bozizé continues to use his influence to try to restore his regime.
In 2013, the Central African Republic launched an international arrest warrant against him for "crimes against humanity and incitement to genocide". Accused of having supported, from Cameroon, the anti-balaka Christian militias, initially trained to counter the atrocities of the predominantly Muslim Seleka, Bozizé is also subject to United Nations sanctions. Traveling by plane is prohibited and his assets frozen.
After a transitional regime led by Catherine Samba Panza, he cannot stand for the presidential election in January 2016 won by Faustin Archange Touadera.
Since 2016, a circular from the Central African Ministry of Transport also prohibits any airline serving this country from bringing François Bozizé there. Since then, his lawyers and his faithful, still numerous in the country, have campaigned for the government to authorize his return.
On Wednesday, the Bangui administrative court rejected a first request from its lawyers, who requested the suspension of this circular.
In recent weeks, several opposition figures had expressed themselves in favor of the return of the former president, including Anicet Georges Dologuélé, an unsuccessful candidate in the second round of the 2016 presidential election.
With AFP
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