Jump to content

François Bozizé

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

François Bozizé
Bozizé in 2007
6th President of the Central African Republic
In office
15 March 2003 – 24 March 2013
Prime Minister
Vice PresidentAbel Goumba (2003–2005)[1]
Preceded byAnge-Félix Patassé
Succeeded byMichel Djotodia
Minister of Defense
In office
? – March 2003
Personal details
Born
François Bozizé Yangouvonda

(1946-10-14) 14 October 1946 (age 78)
Mouila, French Equatorial Africa (now Gabon)
Political partyNational Convergence "Kwa Na Kwa"
SpouseMonique Bozizé
Signature

François Bozizé Yangouvonda (born 14 October 1946)[2] is a Central African politician who was President of the Central African Republic from 2003 to 2013. He was the only Central African president born in modern-day Gabon.

Bozizé rose to become a high-ranking army officer in the 1970s, under the rule of Jean-Bédel Bokassa. After Bokassa was ousted, Bozizé served in the government as Minister of Defense from 1979 to 1981 and as Minister of Information from 1981 to 1982. He participated in a failed 1982 coup attempt against President André Kolingba and subsequently fled the country. Years later, he served as Army Chief of Staff under President Ange-Félix Patassé, but began a rebellion against Patassé in 2001.

Bozizé's forces captured the capital, Bangui, in March 2003, while Patassé was outside the country, and Bozizé took power, ushering in a transitional period of government. He won the March–May 2005 presidential election in a second round of voting, and was re-elected in the January 2011 presidential election, winning the vote in the first round.

In December 2012, the CAR was plunged into an uprising by rebel forces who condemned the Bozizé government for not honoring peace agreements after the Central African Republic Bush War in 2007. On 24 March 2013, Bozizé fled to Cameroon via the Democratic Republic of the Congo after the rebel forces attacked Bangui and took control of the presidential palace.[3][4] There, he was housed by Paul Biya, president of Cameroon.[5][6][7] On 29 May 2013, an international arrest warrant was issued against Bozizé by the Central African Republic.[8][9]

Early life and Kolingba's rule

[edit]

Bozizé was born in the present-day nation of Gabon, a member of the Gbaya people, and attended a military officers' training college in the Central African province of Bouar.[10] He became a second lieutenant in 1969 and a captain in 1975.[10] He was appointed Brigadier General[10] by the Emperor of Central Africa Bokassa I (Jean-Bédel Bokassa) in 1978, after he beat a French noncommissioned officer who had been disrespectful to the Emperor.[11][12] With General Josyhat Mayomokala, Bozizé ordered military personnel to attack young demonstrators who were asking for their parents' arrears.[13] After Bokassa was ousted by David Dacko in 1979, Bozizé was appointed Minister of Defense after an operation that the French army used to overthrow Bokassa (Operation Barracuda).[14][10]

Following Dacko's ouster by André Kolingba in September 1981, Bozizé was appointed Minister of Information, but fled to the north of the country with 100 soldiers after his involvement in a failed coup attempt led by Ange-Félix Patassé on 3 March 1982,[15] in which he accused Kolingba of treason and proclaimed the change of power on Radio Bangui.[16] He then obtained refuge in France.[17] Bozizé was arrested in Cotonou, Benin in July 1989, and imprisoned and tortured. He was put on trial by Kolingba on charges of helping the coup d'état in May but was acquitted on 24 September 1991 and released from prison on 1 December.[10][18] He then sought refuge in France,[12] where he remained for nearly two years.

Under pressure to democratize the government during the 1980s, Kolingba had formed a political party and held a referendum, in which he was elected to a six-year term in office as president. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, internal and external pressures eventually forced Kolingba to adopt the beginnings of a democratic approach. In March 1991, he named Édouard Frank Prime Minister but allowed him virtually no power. He also established a commission to revise the constitution in order to promote pluralism.[citation needed]

As a result, the donor community severely restricted aid flows pending movement towards democracy putting the country into a vicious cycle in which it could not obtain the resources to pay for an election which would legitimize it sufficiently to obtain a flow of aid. When he was pressured by the international community, via a group of locally represented international donors called GIBAFOR (France, USA, Germany, Japan, EU, World Bank and UN), including a very vocal and eloquent US ambassador to the Central African Republic, Daniel H. Simpson, to hold fair elections. They were assisted by the UN Electoral Assistance Unit and monitored by international observers in 1992 but a lot of the resources came from France. Kolingba had the 1992 election sabotaged as he discovered he was not expected to win the vote and so declared the election invalid getting the Constitutional Council cancel it. Under continued pressure from the donor group the election was rescheduled for September 1993.[19]

In the 1993 election, Bozizé ran for the presidency as an independent, receiving 12,159 votes, 1.5% of the total votes cast.[20] Patassé, Abel Goumba and Kolingba received 37.32%, 21.68% and 12.10% of the vote, respectively, but since none of the candidates obtained a majority, a run-off election between the top two candidates — Patassé and Goumba — was held. Patassé defeated Goumba by a 53.49%–46.51% vote and was elected president of the Central African Republic.[21][22]

Relations with Patassé

[edit]

For many years Bozizé was considered a supporter of Patassé and helped him suppress army mutinies in 1996 and 1997. Bozizé was named the Armed Forces Chief of Staff. Bozizé showed no activity against Patassé and frequently crushed revolts against the president.[citation needed]

On 28 May 2001, a coup was attempted against Patassé[23] and defeated with the help of Libyan troops and Congolese rebels of the Movement for the Liberation of Congo.[24] Afterwards, Bozizé's loyalty was questioned, and in late October 2001 he was dismissed as Army Chief of Staff. Fighting erupted when the government tried to arrest Bozizé on 3 November; after five days of this, government forces aided by Libyan troops captured the barracks where Bozizé was based,[25] and Bozizé fled north to Chad.[26][27]

Fighting between government forces and Bozizé's rebels continued during 2002. From 25 to 31 October, his forces unsuccessfully attacked on the capital, Bangui; soldiers of the Congolese MLC, which again came to Patassé's aid, were accused of looting and rape.[28]

This period was marked by tensions between Chad and Patassé's government. Patassé's ruling party accused Chadian president Idriss Déby of destabilizing the Central African Republic by supporting Bozizé with men and equipment.[29]

2003 Coup d’etat and Presidency

[edit]
Bozizé at the CAR Development Partner Round Table in Brussels (2007)
Bozizé at the Security Sector Reform Meeting in Bangui (2008)

On 15 March 2003, Bozizé finally succeeded in seizing power, with his forces entering Bangui unopposed. Patassé was returning from a meeting in Niger at the time, but could not land because Bozizé's forces controlled the airport.[30] Patassé took refuge in Cameroon and then Togo the next year.

On 23 March, Bozizé appointed Abel Goumba as prime minister.[31] In December, he made Goumba Vice-President and appointed Célestin Gaombalet in his place as prime minister.[32] Bozizé suspended the country's 1995 constitution after seizing power, and a new constitution, reportedly similar to the old one, was approved by voters in a referendum on 5 December 2004.[33] After seizing power, Bozizé initially said he would not run in a planned future presidential election, but after the successful constitutional referendum, he announced his intention to stand as a candidate on 11 December:

After thinking thoroughly, and being deeply convinced and keeping in mind the nation's interest, I grasped the deep sense of my people's calls. As a citizen, I'll take my responsibility.
I'll contest the election to achieve the task of rebuilding the country, which is dear to me and according to your wish.[10]

After Bozizé seized power, the Central African Republic Bush War began with the rebellion by the Union of Democratic Forces for Unity (UFDR), led by Michel Djotodia.[34] This quickly escalated into major fighting during 2004.[35] The UFDR rebel forces consisted of five allies, the Groupe d'action patriotique pour la liberation[36] de Centrafrique (GAPLC), the Convention of Patriots for Justice and Peace (CPJP), the People's Army for the Restoration of Democracy (APRD), the Movement of Central African Liberators for Justice[37] (MLCJ), and the Front démocratique Centrafricain (FDC).[38]

Bozizé in Brussels, c 2007.

In December 2004, a constitution was approved in a referendum which would allow a semi presidential system and a two term limit.[39]

That same month on 30 December 2004, Bozizé was one of five candidates approved to run in the presidential election scheduled for early 2005.[40] On 4 January 2005, Bozizé announced that three initially excluded candidates would also be allowed to run, although former president Patassé was not included in either group.[41] In late January, it was announced that more candidates would be permitted to run in the election, bringing the total to 11 and leaving only Patassé barred. The elections were also delayed by one month from the previously scheduled date of 13 February to 13 March.[42]

Bozizé placed first in the 13 March election, taking just under 43% of the vote according to official results.[43] He faced Patassé's last prime minister, Martin Ziguélé, in a second round of voting; this was held on 8 May and according to official results announced on 24 May, he won with 64.6% of the vote.[44] He was sworn in on 11 June.[45]

The National Assembly authorized Bozizé to rule by decree for three months, from 1 January to 31 March 2006; his prime minister, Élie Doté, said that this period of rule by decree was successful, enabling Bozizé to take measures to streamline the civil service.[46]

presidential portrait, year 2010.

In addition to being president, Bozizé has been Minister of National Defense since taking power. At the end of the transitional period, he retained the defense portfolio when he appointed a new government under Doté in June 2005,[47] and he also kept it in a September 2006 cabinet reshuffle.[48]

In early 2006, Bozizé's government appeared stable. However, Patassé, who was living in exile in Togo, could not be ruled out as a leader of a future uprising. His supporters reportedly were joining or were prepared to join rebel movements in belief that their leader was still the rightful head of state of the country. Further, members of Kolingba's Yakoma tribe in the south posed a potential threat to Bozizé's government because of their widespread boycott of the second round of the legislative elections. Members of the Yakoma dominate the army. On 13 April 2007, a peace agreement between the government and the UFDR was signed in Birao. The agreement provided for an amnesty for the UFDR, its recognition as a political party, and the integration of its fighters into the army.[49][50] Further negotiations resulted in an agreement in 2008 for reconciliation, a unity government, and local elections in 2009 and parliamentary and presidential elections in 2010.[51] The new unity government that resulted was formed in January 2009.[52]

Facing a general strike over wage arrears for civil servants in January 2008,[53] Bozizé appointed a new government headed by Faustin-Archange Touadéra, an academic figure who was politically unknown. In that government he kept the defense portfolio, while also appointing his son Francis Bozizé to work under him as Minister-Delegate. Bozizé's sister, Yvonne M'Boïssona, who had been Minister of Tourism, was reappointed to the government as Minister of Water, Forests, Hunting, Fishing, and the Environment.[53] His nephew, Sylvain Ndoutingai, served as Minister of State of Mines, Energy, and Water Resources.[citation needed]

In February 2010, Kolingba died in France. In early March, Bozizé presided over his burial ceremony in Bangui. The same week, Bozizé signed a presidential decree setting the date for the next presidential election which was to be held on 25 April 2010.[54]

The elections were first postponed to 16 May, and then indefinitely.[55] The parliament was asked to pass a change to the constitution allowing the President to continue its mandate until elections could be organized.[56] Some sources saw the delay in elections as a constitutional coup, and did not expect elections to take place anytime soon.[57] However, elections were held in January and March 2011. Bozizé and his party both won in the elections.

Central African Bush War

[edit]

After Francois Bozizé took power in March of 2003 a rebellion broke out. Soon the rebellion would turn into a civil war and the rebels now called Union of Democratic Forces for Unity (UFDR) led by Michel Djotodia who would take power in a coup d’etat in 2013. But before the start of the bush war in 2004 Central African Republic was already become unstable.[citation needed]

On 17 April 2004, security forces reportedly killed eight "Liberators," Chadian combatants who had helped the President seize power in 2003. Prior to the killings, the Chadian combatants had staged violent demonstrations, looted approximately 75 homes in a Bangui suburb, and demanded payment from President Bozize for their support during the rebellion that allowed him to depose former President Patasse. During the year, the President reportedly paid each Liberator $1,000 (504,000 CFA francs) before they ostensibly returned to Chad.[58]

During the first year, many parts of the country, and the Government was significantly affected by insecurity and the threat of conflict. In April 2004, the Government deployed 200 soldiers to fight banditry in the northern and northwest provinces, including Kemo and Ouham-Pende. Some human rights observers said they believed that many of the armed groups were the same rebels and mercenaries, including Chadian ex-combatants, who helped Bozize seize power in the 2003 coup; these observers said that because Bozize had been unable to pay the ex-combatants.[58]: 84 

Soldier in the streets of Birao where the war began.

Between 2006 and 2007 President Francois Bozize was holding a national dialogue with rebel groups and political foes to try to end the fighting. He has signed peace pacts with two rebel groups but instability was rising.[59]

Further negotiations resulted in an agreement in 2008 for reconciliation, a unity government and local elections in 2009 and parliamentary and presidential elections in 2010.[60]

During this war many were killed,houses burnt, villages destroyed and many others such as no drinking water. Around 10,000 people were displaced because of the civil unrest.[59]

In every case of rebellion, there are abuses, I cannot deny that, there are abuses.– François Bozizé[61]

National Development

[edit]

Even though the Central African Republic has many minerals and abundance of arable land many of the people in Central African Republic were in poverty and male life expectancy went down during his presidency and in 2009 CAR had a GDP per capita of just 456$. The cause for this was because he would focus on only himself. This would make living standards in CAR worse because commercial enterprises were destroyed. While he ruled the country corruption increased under his rule and so would diamond smuggling.[62]

Foreign Relations

[edit]

Chad

[edit]

In April 2006, Chadian rebels names United Front for Democratic Change that were based in Darfur used C.A.R. as a route to attack Chad. Bozizé’s response was that he would close the border between Sudan and Central African Republic.[63]

Civil War leadership

[edit]
Main article: Central African Republic Civil War (2012–present)

On 10 December 2012, the Séléka CPSK-CPJP-UFDR (Séléka means coalition) seized the towns of N'Délé, Sam Ouandja and Ouadda. Rebels fought with government and allied CPJP troops for over an hour before securing the town of N'Délé.[64] On 27 December, Bozizé requested international assistance to help with the rebellion, in particular from France and the United States. French President François Hollande rejected the plea, saying that the 250 French troops stationed at Bangui M'Poko International Airport are there "in no way to intervene in the internal affairs".[65]

On 11 January 2013, a ceasefire agreement was signed in Libreville, Gabon. The rebels dropped their demand for Bozizé to resign, but he had to appoint a new prime minister from the opposition party by 18 January 2013.[66] On 13 January, Bozizé signed a decree that removed Prime Minister Touadéra from power, as part of the agreement with the rebel coalition. On 17 January, Nicolas Tiangaye was appointed prime minister.[67]

Map of Seleka rebellion.

By 22 March, however, the rebels had renewed their advance, accusing Bozizé of failing to honor the January ceasefire agreement. They took towns throughout the Central African Republic, including Damara and Bossangoa. They advanced to within 22 kilometers of Bangui,[68] but were halted with an aerial assault from an attack helicopter.[69] However, Nelson N'Djadder, presumed spokesman for the rebels, claimed that they shot down the helicopter.[70]

On 24 March, rebel forces heavily attacked Bangui and took control of major structures, including the presidential palace. Bozizé's family fled across the river to the Democratic Republic of the Congo[71] and then to Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon, where he was granted temporary refuge.[72] Subsequently, he requested that Benin grant him political asylum.[73]

Exile and elections

[edit]

Bozizé was forced to flee the country after being overthrown in a coup d’etat in 2013.[74] While in exile, Bozizé fled to Cameroon via the Democratic Republic of the Congo after the rebel forces attacked Bangui and took control of the presidential palace. There, he was housed by Paul Biya, president of Cameroon.[75] A warrant was placed for him and was transmitted on May 30, 2013. Bozize was accused of a string of arrests, abductions and arbitrary detentions as well as the destruction of nearly 4,000 homes.[76]

Kwa Na Kwa announced on 10 August 2015 that Bozizé would return to the country and stand as a candidate in the October 2015 presidential election.[77] On 8 December 2015, the Constitutional Court announced the list of approved presidential candidacies. Bozizé, who was still in exile, was barred from standing.[78][79] Officially, he was excluded on the grounds that he was not registered on the voter list and because he had agreed not to run again as part of the peace agreement in January 2013. Gunfire was subsequently reported in parts of Bangui, as his supporters reacted angrily to the news.[78][79] The KNK said that Bozizé's exclusion was "the result of internal and external pressure",[80] with many of his supporters alleging that the French government was involved in the decision.[79]

At the end of 2019 Bozizé returned to CAR and announced his presidential candidacy for upcoming elections. However, on 3 December 2020 the Constitutional Court of CAR ruled that Bozizé did not satisfy the "good morality" requirement for candidates because of an international warrant and United Nations sanctions against him for alleged assassinations, torture and other crimes.[81] The government then accused Bozizé of plotting a coup.[82]

On 22 September 2023, Bozizé, who fled to Chad before moving to Guinea-Bissau, was sentenced in absentia to life imprisonment with hard labor by the Bangui Court of Appeal for unspecified crimes.[83] On 30 April 2024, the Special Criminal Court in Bangui issued an international arrest warrant against him on charges of human rights abuses committed during his presidency, including in Bossembélé, which was dubbed as his "personal prison". However, Guinea-Bissau, where Bozizé is currently living, does not allow for extradition.[84][85]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Bradshaw & Fandos-Rius 2016, p. 313.
  2. ^ Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. (1 January 2010). Encyclopaedia Britannica Almanac 2010. Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. p. 40. ISBN 978-1-61535-329-3. Archived from the original on 21 May 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  3. ^ Lydia Polgreen (25 March 2013). "Leader of Central African Republic Fled to Cameroon, Official Says". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  4. ^ British Broadcasting Corporation (24 March 2013). "Central African Republic: President Bozize flees Bangui". BBC. Archived from the original on 27 June 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  5. ^ "Centrafrique: Bozizé au Cameroun". lefigaro.fr. Le Figaro. 25 March 2013. Archived from the original on 27 February 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  6. ^ "Centrafrique : Paris envoie 300 soldats en renfort après la fuite de Bozizé". Le Monde.fr (in French). 24 March 2013. Archived from the original on 29 January 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  7. ^ "Looting and gunfire in captured CAR capital". aljazeera.com. Aljazeera. Archived from the original on 24 March 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  8. ^ "CAR issues arrest warrant for ex-president". aljazeera. Archived from the original on 27 February 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  9. ^ "RCA: François Bozizé visé par un mandat d'arrêt international". rfi.fr. RFI. 31 May 2013. Archived from the original on 27 February 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  10. ^ a b c d e f "Bozize to contest presidency as an independent candidate". IRIN. 13 December 2004. Archived from the original on 15 May 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2008.
  11. ^ Titley 1997, p. 44
  12. ^ a b Kalck 2005, p. 33
  13. ^ Kalck 2005, p. 7
  14. ^ "Le général Bozizé couronné président". liberation.fr. Libération. Archived from the original on 27 February 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  15. ^ Kalck 2005, p. 8
  16. ^ Kalck 2005, p. xxxix
  17. ^ Kalck 2005, p. xl.
  18. ^ Europa World Year – Taylor & Francis Group. Taylor & Francis. July 2004. ISBN 9781857432541. Archived from the original on 21 May 2024. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  19. ^ Appiah & Gates 1999, p. 1502
  20. ^ Rapport de la Mission Exploratoire en vue des Elections Presidentielles et Legislatives du 22 aout 1993 (PDF) (in French), Le Conseil Permanent de la Francophonie, archived from the original (PDF) on 27 June 2008, retrieved 15 August 2008
  21. ^ Central African Republic: parliamentary elections Assemblée nationale, 1993, Inter-Parliamentary Union, 11 January 2007, archived from the original on 11 June 2011, retrieved 15 August 2008
  22. ^ Diamond, Larry (April 2002), "Election Results in Hybrid Regimes, 1989–2001", Journal of Democracy, 13 (2): Appendix 2, ISSN 1045-5736, archived from the original on 5 September 2008, retrieved 15 August 2008
  23. ^ "Situation “confused” after apparent coup attempt" Archived 22 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine, IRINnews.org, 28 May 2001.
  24. ^ "Patasse government back in control" Archived 29 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine, IRINnews.org, 4 June 2001.
  25. ^ "Rebel general, overpowered, flees" Archived 15 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine, IRINnews.org, 8 November 2001.
  26. ^ "Regional efforts underway to calm tensions" Archived 15 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine, IRINnews.org, 28 November 2001.
  27. ^ Mehler 2005, p. 146.
  28. ^ "UN to investigate October rights abuses" Archived 29 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine, IRINnews.org, 11 November 2002.
  29. ^ "Ruling party accuses Chad of backing coup attempt" Archived 29 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine, IRINnews.org, 5 November 2002.
  30. ^ "Rebel leader seizes power, suspends constitution" Archived 26 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine, IRINnews.org 17 March 2003.
  31. ^ "Bozize appoints prime minister" Archived 22 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine, IRINnews.org, 24 March 2003.
  32. ^ "New premier forms government, Goumba appointed VP" Archived 29 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine, IRINnews.org, 15 December 2003.
  33. ^ "New constitution adopted, 15 to vie for presidency" Archived 17 May 2007 at the Wayback Machine, IRINnews.org, 20 December 2004.
  34. ^ Hancock, Stephanie (30 August 2007). "Feature - Bush war leaves Central African villages deserted". ReliefWeb. Reuters. Archived from the original on 6 November 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  35. ^ "Raid on CAR town 'leaves 20 dead'". BBC News. 23 December 2004. Archived from the original on 11 January 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  36. ^ Béa, Bertin. "Centrafrique : Arrêté pour troubles à l'ordre public, un proche de Bozizé libéré de force par des partisans". koaci. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  37. ^ Duhem, Vincent. "Centrafrique : évasion spectaculaire du secrétaire général du parti de François Bozizé". jeuneafrique. Jeune Afrique. Archived from the original on 15 September 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  38. ^ "Central African Republic: Rebels Call for Dialogue After Capturing Key Town". AllAfrica.com. IRIN. 2 November 2006. Archived from the original on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  39. ^ "Central African Republic profile". BBC News. 20 April 2011. Archived from the original on 29 January 2019. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  40. ^ "Court clears five to run for president" Archived 29 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine, IRINnews.org, 31 December 2004.
  41. ^ "Bozize repeals court ban on some presidential candidates" Archived 12 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine, IRINnews.org, 5 January 2005.
  42. ^ "Election postponed, but most banned candidates can now run" Archived 29 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine, IRINnews.org, 25 January 2005.
  43. ^ "Two to face off in second round of presidential poll" Archived 29 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine, IRINnews.org, 1 April 2005.
  44. ^ "Incumbent wins presidency" Archived 29 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine, IRINnews.org, 24 May 2005.
  45. ^ "Central Africa Gets Chief" Archived 21 May 2024 at the Wayback Machine, Agence France-Presse, 11 June 2005.
  46. ^ "Prime minister declares rule by decree a success" Archived 18 April 2007 at the Wayback Machine, IRINnews.org, 9 June 2006.
  47. ^ "Newly-appointed premier names cabinet" Archived 29 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine, IRINnews.org, 21 June 2005.
  48. ^ "Nouveau gouvernement" Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine, fodem.org, 3 September 2006. (in French)
  49. ^ "Central African Republic: Concern As Civilians Flee, Government Denies Rebel Capture of Third Town". AllAfrica.com. IRIN. 13 November 2006. Archived from the original on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  50. ^ "Central African Republic, rebels sign peace deal". USA Today. Associated Press. 13 April 2007. Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  51. ^ "CAR president dissolves government, vows unity". Taipei Times. Agence France-Presse. 20 January 2009. Archived from the original on 28 September 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  52. ^ "Touadera names rebels in new Central African Republic govt". Agence France-Presse. 19 January 2009. Archived from the original on 4 April 2009. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  53. ^ a b "Central African leader names son in new government" Archived 29 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Reuters (AlertNet), 28 January 2008.
  54. ^ "Central African Republic to hold April 25 elections". Reuters. 25 February 2010. Archived from the original on 4 March 2010.
  55. ^ "Bozizé prend ses précautions". Jeuneafrique.com. Archived from the original on 14 May 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
  56. ^ "Les députés prorogent le mandat simultané du Président de la République et des députés pour un délai indéterminé". Acap-cf.info. Archived from the original on 19 May 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
  57. ^ "RCA : Du projet de loi constitutionnelle par Me ZARAMBAUD Assingambi – centrafrique-presse" (in French). Centrafrique-presse.over-blog.com. Archived from the original on 16 May 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
  58. ^ a b US State Department (September 2005). Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Report Submitted to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, U.S. House of Representatives and Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate by the Department of State in Accordance with Sections 116(d) and 502B(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as Amended. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 86.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  59. ^ a b "Feature - Bush war leaves Central African villages deserted - Central African Republic | ReliefWeb". reliefweb.int. 30 August 2007. Archived from the original on 15 May 2019. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  60. ^ "AFP: Central African Republic president dissolves government". 4 February 2012. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  61. ^ Melander, Ingrid (26 October 2007). "CAR president admits rights abuses by gov't forces". Brussels. Reuters. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
  62. ^ "Central African Republic - Francois Bozize". globalsecurity.org. Archived from the original on 21 July 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  63. ^ "Sudan Issue Brief" (PDF). Sudan Issue Brief. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 July 2010. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  64. ^ "Heavy fighting in northern CAR, many flee: military". Bangui, CAR. Agence France-Presse. 10 December 2012. Archived from the original on 20 February 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  65. ^ "CAR leader appeals for help to halt rebel advance (The Daily Star Lebanon)". The Daily Star. Lebanon. 28 December 2012. Archived from the original on 28 December 2012. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  66. ^ Sayare, Scott (11 January 2013). "Rebel Coalition in Central African Republic Agrees to a Short Cease-Fire". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 29 March 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  67. ^ Patrick Fort, "Tiangaye named Central African PM, says 'hard work' begins" Archived 27 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Agence France-Presse, 17 January 2013.
  68. ^ "UN warns CAR rebels to halt march on capital – Africa". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 24 March 2013. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  69. ^ "Central African Republic forces 'halt rebel advance'". BBC. 22 March 2013. Archived from the original on 23 March 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  70. ^ "Rebels capture Central African Republic capital, president flees – Yahoo!! News". Yahoo! News. Archived from the original on 29 March 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  71. ^ "Central African Republic capital falls to rebels, Bozizé flees". Reuters. 24 March 2013. Archived from the original on 31 August 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  72. ^ "CAR president seeks refuge in Cameroon - Africa". Al Jazeera English. 25 March 2013. Archived from the original on 28 March 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  73. ^ "Bozize seeks asylum in Benin: minister" Archived 1 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Agence France-Presse, 28 March 2013.
  74. ^ "Ex-CAR President Francois Bozize 'returns home' from exile". www.aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on 21 July 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  75. ^ "Centrafrique: Bozizé au Cameroun". LEFIGARO (in French). 25 March 2013. Archived from the original on 21 July 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  76. ^ "CAR issues arrest warrant for ex-president". www.aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on 21 July 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  77. ^ "Exiled Central African leader Bozize to stand at election" Archived 16 May 2021 at the Wayback Machine, Reuters, 10 August 2015.
  78. ^ a b "Renewed unrest in C.Africa after presidential candidates announced" Archived 26 July 2017 at the Wayback Machine, Agence France-Presse, 8 December 2015.
  79. ^ a b c "Présidentielle en RCA: les soutiens de Bozizé accusent la France", Radio France Internationale, 9 December 2015 (in French).
  80. ^ "Deposed former Central African Republic ruler Bozize barred from elections" Archived 2 March 2017 at the Wayback Machine, Reuters, 8 December 2015.
  81. ^ "CAR court rejects ex-president Bozize's election candidacy". Archived from the original on 22 December 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  82. ^ "François Bozizé: CAR former president denies 'attempted coup'". BBC. 21 December 2020. Archived from the original on 22 December 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  83. ^ "Central African Republic sentences ex-president Bozizé to life imprisonment". Africanews. 22 September 2023. Archived from the original on 23 September 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  84. ^ "Court in the Central African Republic seeks arrest of ex-President Bozizé for human rights abuses". Associated Press. 1 May 2024. Archived from the original on 1 May 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  85. ^ "Inside one of Africa's most secret prisons". Al Jazeera. 13 April 2013. Archived from the original on 1 May 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.

References

[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to François Bozizé.
Political offices
Preceded by President of the Central African Republic
2003–2013 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=François_Bozizé&oldid=1250411769"