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| Central African Republic president's resignation brings joy and fear | Central African Republic president's resignation brings joy and fear |
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| The interim president of the Central African Republic (CAR) resigned on Friday after a disastrous nine-month rule, prompting celebrations on the streets but fresh anxiety about a power vacuum and revenge attacks against Muslims. | |
| The fate of Michel Djotodia, a rebel who became the country's first Muslim leader, only to preside over its descent towards civil war, was sealed at a regional summit in neighbouring Chad. The prime minister, Nicolas Tiangaye, with whom he had a fractious relationship, also stepped down. | The fate of Michel Djotodia, a rebel who became the country's first Muslim leader, only to preside over its descent towards civil war, was sealed at a regional summit in neighbouring Chad. The prime minister, Nicolas Tiangaye, with whom he had a fractious relationship, also stepped down. |
| Djotodia, 65, has appeared impotent amid a cycle of attacks and counter-attacks by Christian and Muslim militias that has left thousands of people dead and forced a million from their homes. He became deeply unpopular, particularly among the nation's Christian majority. | Djotodia, 65, has appeared impotent amid a cycle of attacks and counter-attacks by Christian and Muslim militias that has left thousands of people dead and forced a million from their homes. He became deeply unpopular, particularly among the nation's Christian majority. |
| But Djotodia's departure leaves the state in the hands of a weak transitional government and facing an uncertain future. The CAR has endured five coups and perpetual instability since gaining independence from France in 1960. | But Djotodia's departure leaves the state in the hands of a weak transitional government and facing an uncertain future. The CAR has endured five coups and perpetual instability since gaining independence from France in 1960. |
| As news from the summit reached the capital, Bangui, thousands of residents took to the streets, dancing, singing, honking car horns, firing into the air and waving flags, handwritten placards and tree branches in celebration. Cheers erupted at a camp for 100,000 displaced Christian civilians at the French-controlled airport. | As news from the summit reached the capital, Bangui, thousands of residents took to the streets, dancing, singing, honking car horns, firing into the air and waving flags, handwritten placards and tree branches in celebration. Cheers erupted at a camp for 100,000 displaced Christian civilians at the French-controlled airport. |
| "Finally we are free!" Carine Gbegbe, 28, who has been living in a displacement camp, was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. "We are going to return home at last." | "Finally we are free!" Carine Gbegbe, 28, who has been living in a displacement camp, was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. "We are going to return home at last." |
| A 71-year-old woman, standing outside a shop where she said her son had been killed by rebels in March, told Reuters: "It's a new day for Central African Republic. God has heard our crying and our prayers." | A 71-year-old woman, standing outside a shop where she said her son had been killed by rebels in March, told Reuters: "It's a new day for Central African Republic. God has heard our crying and our prayers." |
| International aid agencies working in Bangui described an unsure mood. Renee Lambert, country manager of Catholic Relief Services, was driving back to her office when word came through. She noticed a French military checkpoint had been set up and Congolese citizens, normally seen outside their embassy, had gone inside for their safety. "The immediate reaction was: 'Let's go inside. We don't know what's going to happen.'" | International aid agencies working in Bangui described an unsure mood. Renee Lambert, country manager of Catholic Relief Services, was driving back to her office when word came through. She noticed a French military checkpoint had been set up and Congolese citizens, normally seen outside their embassy, had gone inside for their safety. "The immediate reaction was: 'Let's go inside. We don't know what's going to happen.'" |
| Later Lambert's staff reported dancing, singing and celebrations in predominantly Christian neighbourhoods, whereas Muslim areas were much quieter. "My concern is that the Central African Muslim population is going to be the target of very serious revenge attacks," she said. | Later Lambert's staff reported dancing, singing and celebrations in predominantly Christian neighbourhoods, whereas Muslim areas were much quieter. "My concern is that the Central African Muslim population is going to be the target of very serious revenge attacks," she said. |
| It is now vital for the right successor to be chosen and for a balanced government to be established in which Muslim voices are represented, Lambert added. "This can be positive but there has to be a clear plan to move forward." | It is now vital for the right successor to be chosen and for a balanced government to be established in which Muslim voices are represented, Lambert added. "This can be positive but there has to be a clear plan to move forward." |
| Like many before him in the CAR, Djotodia had a violent and brief reign. He seized power after his Seleka rebel coalition overthrew the then president, François Bozizé, but seemed ill-prepared for the job. The American anthropologist Louisa Lombard, formerly based in the CAR, wrote: "Hearing the stories of his ambition during my research, I almost felt embarrassed on his behalf – he seemed like a Jamaican bobsledder convinced he'd win gold." | Like many before him in the CAR, Djotodia had a violent and brief reign. He seized power after his Seleka rebel coalition overthrew the then president, François Bozizé, but seemed ill-prepared for the job. The American anthropologist Louisa Lombard, formerly based in the CAR, wrote: "Hearing the stories of his ambition during my research, I almost felt embarrassed on his behalf – he seemed like a Jamaican bobsledder convinced he'd win gold." |
| Although Djotodia officially disbanded the Seleka, he proved unable to keep them in check. They went on to carry out countless atrocities against civilians, killing, looting and razing villages. The group is largely drawn from the CAR's Muslim minority and the conflict soon became defined along sectarian faultlines. | Although Djotodia officially disbanded the Seleka, he proved unable to keep them in check. They went on to carry out countless atrocities against civilians, killing, looting and razing villages. The group is largely drawn from the CAR's Muslim minority and the conflict soon became defined along sectarian faultlines. |
| Last month a Christian militia backed by loyalists of Bozizé attacked the capital. In the violent aftermath, more than 1,000 people were killed and nearly a million displaced. | Last month a Christian militia backed by loyalists of Bozizé attacked the capital. In the violent aftermath, more than 1,000 people were killed and nearly a million displaced. |
| France, the former colonial power, has sent 1,600 soldiers in an effort to stabilise the country and an African peacekeeping force has provided thousands of additional personnel. However, violence continues to rack the capital. Muslims suspected of collaborating with Djotodia's rebellion have been stoned to death in the streets and their bodies mutilated. | France, the former colonial power, has sent 1,600 soldiers in an effort to stabilise the country and an African peacekeeping force has provided thousands of additional personnel. However, violence continues to rack the capital. Muslims suspected of collaborating with Djotodia's rebellion have been stoned to death in the streets and their bodies mutilated. |
| A frustrated Djotodia responded by saying no one could solve the CAR's myriad problems in just eight months. "I am not God, I hope," he said. "I am a man like you. And this country is vast – 623,000 square kilometres. You could bring an angel from the sky to govern this country and there would still be problems." | A frustrated Djotodia responded by saying no one could solve the CAR's myriad problems in just eight months. "I am not God, I hope," he said. "I am a man like you. And this country is vast – 623,000 square kilometres. You could bring an angel from the sky to govern this country and there would still be problems." |
| But with no sign of an end to the crisis, a majority of the National Transitional Council's (CNT) 135 members arrived in N'Djamena on a Chadian government aircraft late on Thursday, together with leading members of the opposition, for a meeting with the 10-nation Economic Community of Central African States. The council now has 15 days to choose another president. | But with no sign of an end to the crisis, a majority of the National Transitional Council's (CNT) 135 members arrived in N'Djamena on a Chadian government aircraft late on Thursday, together with leading members of the opposition, for a meeting with the 10-nation Economic Community of Central African States. The council now has 15 days to choose another president. |
| Romain Nadal, a spokesman for the French foreign ministry, said: "We take note of the resignation. It is up to the CNT to decide what happens now. France does not interfere in any case with this process." | Romain Nadal, a spokesman for the French foreign ministry, said: "We take note of the resignation. It is up to the CNT to decide what happens now. France does not interfere in any case with this process." |
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