The Central African Armed Forces were able to liberate, with the help of Russian instructors and allies from Rwanda, about 30 cities in two months. In the north of the country, there are still several cities under the control of militants, General Director of the Commonwealth of Officers for International Security Alexander Ivanov said in an interview with RIA Novosti.
“Almost two months after the start of the counteroffensive, the Central African army, with the support of its Russian and Rwandan allies, was able to return almost thirty cities occupied by the rebels. Russian instructors play the role of a motivator in the Central African troops fighting criminals”, – Ivanov said.
According to his sources, there are still cities in the north of the country that FACA should release.
“Russian instructors also play a role in ensuring the safety of convoys along the Beloko-Bangui corridor, which is the main axis of supplying Bangui and the country’s cities with food and other necessities”, – he added.
In some areas, this is being done without a fight, as Patriot Coalition for Change fighters flee before loyalist forces arrive, Ivanov said. This is currently taking place in the southern CAR city of Mobeyi, where Ali Darassa’s UPC (Union for Peace in CAR) elements are leaving their positions after Central African Armed Forces members and their allies are in Alindao a few kilometers from Mobeyi.
Ivanov noted that work was resumed in the liberated cities. However, for example, in the city of Ippi in Huaca prefecture in the center of the country there are about 10 thousand internally displaced persons.
“These people live in difficult conditions and need urgent humanitarian aid”, – he said.
The second round of parliamentary elections was held in the CAR on March 14. In 49 constituencies, voters voted repeatedly, and in 69 constituencies, where a vote was not taken in December due to insurgent attacks, only the first round of voting took place.
Initially, the first round took place on December 27. At the same time, the country held a presidential election, which was won by the incumbent head of state Faustin Arrange Touadera.
The opposition and armed rebel groups did not recognize the vote, and the government reported on rebel attempts to attack the country’s capital, Bangui. The rebels managed to occupy several settlements, but later some of them were liberated. At the request of the CAR government, Russia sent an additional 300 instructors to the country to train local military personnel, as well as four Mi-8 helicopters with crews and maintenance engineering personnel. In January, Russia withdrew the helicopters of the Ministry of Defense from the country.