Central African Republic declares cease-fire with rebels

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadera said Friday he was declaring a unilateral cease-fire against armed groups.

“It is to give peace a chance that I am here to announce to you this evening the end of military operations and all armed action on the whole of the national territory,” said Touadera.

He made his announcement on television and said the cease-fire would take effect at midnight Friday.

Touadera added that he believed the move would help protect civilians from violence and allow them to access humanitarian aid and basic services.

The Central African nation has been devastated by violence since former President Francois Bozize was ousted in 2013.

Three soldiers were killed Thursday in an ambush by suspected fighters from the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC) near Ngaoundaye, in the prefecture of Lim-Pende, in the northwest, security sources said Friday.

At least 12 people were killed and several others wounded when rebel fighters ambushed and torched three trucks carrying passengers from a regional capital last week.

The vehicles were heading to Alindao from Bambari, the headquarters of Ouaka prefecture, when militants linked to the CPC attacked.

Three Russian Wagner Group mercenaries were reported killed last Saturday when their convoy was ambushed by the CPC rebels in Bombo, in the Mambere-Kadei area in western Central African Republic.

CPC spokesman Abakar Sabone told reporters on Friday that the group welcomed the cease-fire and would respect it if the government remained committed. Previous peace accords have quickly been broken.