President reshuffles government, army and police

The President of Central African Republic, Ange-Felix Patasse, reshuffled the government, army and police on Wednesday; but retained Prime Minister Martin Ziguele at his post. The ministers of foreign affairs (Agba Otipko Mezode), home affairs (Joseph Mounzole), defence (Pierre Angoa) and the deputy of defence (Xavier Sylvestre Yangongo) are to vacate theirs. The new government comprises 27 members, these consisting of 16 ministers, nine deputy ministers and two ministers of state. Three of the ministers are female and none comes from the opposition. This cabinet reshuffle, which analysts regard as a mere readjustment, takes place during a military crisis caused by the abortive 25 October 2002 invasion of the capital, Bangui, by rebels led by the former chief of staff, Gen Francois Bozize. The National Assembly, which met in an extraordinary session late in November, had called for the establishment of a crisis government to manage the emergency. In the ensuing debates, members of parliament from both from the opposition and the presidential party condemned the failure of the intelligence, military, gendarmerie and police services to prevent or send out an early warning of the October crisis. Patasse also appointed a new army chief of staff, Col Antoine Gambi. The latter replaces Gen Ernest Betibangui, who died in mid-December 2002. Patasse also created a new ministry at his office to be in charge of intelligence.