Former Central African head of state François Bozizé led the rebellion which launched an offensive four months ago to overthrow President Faustin Archange Touadéra, reelected in January, and now in retreat after taking control from several cities.
The spokesperson for the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC), Serge Bozanga, told AFP that François Bozizé had responded favorably to the "call" of the six armed groups members of the CPC, asking him "to take the lead "of the coalition" as general coordinator ".
In mid-December, six of the most powerful armed groups which controlled two-thirds of the Central African Republic, in civil war for eight years, allied themselves within the CPC, then launched an offensive against the regime of President Touadéra.
"Walking on Bangui"
As soon as the coalition announced "to march on Bangui" on December 19, Faustin Archange Touadéra accused François Bozizé of being the head of the CPC, which the party of the former head of state denied.
On the day of the presidential election, François Bozizé nevertheless supported the CPC and called for a boycott of the ballot.
On January 4, an investigation was opened against him, in particular for "rebellion".
Despite repeated attacks, until the gates of the capital quickly pushed back on January 13, the rebels failed to prevent the re-election of Faustin Archange Touadéra at the end of the first round of the presidential election on December 27.
The rebels had succeeded during their offensive in early January to take control of certain towns, such as Bangassou, located 750km from the capital.
But the rebels left the city two weeks later, after a UN ultimatum and for nearly two months, they have lost a number of cities.
"Suffocate" the city
The CPC has sought to cut traffic on national roads 1 and 3, a vital road link that connects Bangui, the capital of this landlocked country, to neighboring Cameroon, in an attempt to "suffocate" the city, according to the UN.
The pro-government forces then led a counter-offensive to liberate the towns of Boda, Boali, Bossembélé, Bossemptélé, Yaloké and Beloko, opening the vital supply axis connecting the capital to Cameroon.
François Bozizé, who came to power in 2003 following a coup before being ousted in 2013, was a candidate for the presidential election on December 27.
His candidacy was invalidated in early December by the Constitutional Court on the grounds in particular that he was under UN sanctions for his alleged support for self-defense militias guilty, according to the United Nations, of war crimes and against humanity at the height of civil war in 2013 and 2014.
Overthrown in 2013 by a coalition of armed groups dominated by Muslims, the Seleka, François Bozizé is accused in particular by the United Nations of having organized a bloody counterinsurgency since his exile, that of anti-balaka militias, mainly Christian and animist.
In 2014, the United Nations placed him under sanctions for "supporting" the anti-balaka and accusing him of "asking his militias to continue the atrocities" against Muslims.
President Touadéra was re-elected after a contested first round, where less than one in two voters was able to go to the polls due to violence from armed groups.
With AFP
The summary of the week
France 24 invites you to come back to the news that marked the week
I subscribe
Take international news everywhere with you!
Download the France 24 application
google-play-badge_FR