Bozize directs justice minister to recover embezzled funds

Central African Republic (CAR) leader Francois Bozize has directed the minister for justice, Faustin Mbodou, to recover funds embezzled during the administration of his predecessor, President Ange-Felix Patasse, whom he ousted on 15 March. State-owed Radio Centrafrique and Television Centrafricaine reported on Thursday that Bozize had directed Mbodou to embark immediately on the recovery of some 4.8 billion francs CFA (US $8.7 million), which had been donated by Japan to the government during Patasse's administration. Bozize made the directive in a speech aired on radio and television, giving an account of his government's performance 100 days after he seized power. "An investigation has been launched by the prosecutor’s office of Bangui," Bozize was quoted as saying. He added that those responsible for the embezzlement would be prosecuted. In April, the prosecutor of Bangui’s Court of First Instance froze bank accounts for 26 former ministers who had served under Patasse. In a debate broadcast live on Wednesday by state Television Centrafricaine, the junior minister in charge of planning and cooperation, Philippe Waradague, said Japanese donation had initially been made to help create more employment opportunities in the country. "We are struggling so that Japan does not abandon our country," Prime Minister Abel Goumba said when he called in during the debate. He added that he and Bozize had pleaded with the Japanese government not to close its embassy in the country. Regarding the security situation, Bozize said although he had not been able to fully restore calm across the nation, recently appointed administrative and military authorities would soon take up their positions countrywide. The minister in charge of territorial administration, Marcel Malonga, said only governors in the northwest had reported to their duty stations. He added that the rest were awaiting the restoration of security and the availability of vehicles to transport them to their stations. On political developments, Bozize announced that the national dialogue initiated by Patasse in 2002 would be held in two months. However, he said the aim of the talks would be different from that of Patasse's administration, which was to end Bozize's rebellion. A professor of sociology at the University of Bangui, Bienvenue Djanga, told IRIN on Thursday that the new administration should not have replaced all the experts who served in government ministries during Patasse's time, saying those who had taken over were inexperienced. Djanga said it was important to hold the national dialogue, as it would help restore confidence between the former government officials and the current authorities. "Bozize should avoid any frustration and foster confidence," he said. He said a major victory for Bozize's administration was the payment of salaries for civil servants who had not been paid for months when he took power. “We are now able to reorganise our families’ budgets," Djanga said, adding that the payment of salaries had encouraged workers previously on strike to resume work. Bozize has announced a constitutional referendum to be held in mid-2004, the presidential election in the third quarter of 2004 and parliamentary and municipal elections in the last quarter of 2004. Diplomatically, the Bozize administration has won the official recognition of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central African States, which has maintained a 380-strong peace keeping force in the country, and has granted the government $9.1 for reconstruction.