Civil War Precipitates 'Change of Management' at Strategic Airport

Forces loyal to the former Central African Republic Army chief, Francois Bozize, took over the Bangui Airport on Saturday, as the country's President, former Army chief Francois Bozize, was out of the country, believed to have been visiting Niger. Interestingly enough, Bozize, too, was in Niger on Saturday, ostensibly visiting the President of Chad, Idriss Deby,  who is thought by many to be supporting Bozize.

Patasse, who counts among his supporters Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi and Jean Pierre Bemba, leader of the Congolese Liberation Movement, has not been seen publicly since Saturday, when he reported that talks with Deby were looking fruitful.

The same airport narrowly escaped capture, by the same group, five months ago.

Many of Patasse's residences were overrun, and citizens were reported in the streets of Bangui, shouting, "Patasse out!"

The Central African Republic was granted independence from France in 1960. It was formerly known (when under French colonial rule) as Ubangi-Shari. It is rich in gold, diamonds, and uranium; but its economy has not been supported by its resources, which, under various and generally-unstable governments, has failed to promote the markets its resources would dictate.

No casualties have been reported; several of Patasse's army were said to have been seen changing into civilian clothes. The state-run radio and television are both off the air...

FMI: http://travel.state.gov/central_african_republic.html