CEMAC gives Bangui $9.1 million

Responding to an appeal from the Central African Republic (CAR), the Economic and Monetary Community of Central African States (CEMAC) granted five billion francs CFA (US $9.1 million) on Tuesday to the new administration in Bangui. Africa No. 1 radio, a private Gabon broadcaster, reported that the announcement was made in Libreville, the capital of Gabon, at the end of a daylong CEMAC summit that focused on the CAR. "CEMAC has responded to our appeal, it is now the turn of the international community to respond," Francois Bozize, the CAR leader, said. The summit was the first international meeting Bozize had attended since seizing power on 15 March from President Ange-Felix Patasse. The grant is the second that Bozize's administration has received. In April, it received $2.5 million from the People's Republic China. Africa No.1 reported that CEMAC leaders expressed their satisfaction with the developments in the CAR, which include the formation of a government of national unity, the installation of the National Transition Council and an amnesty for plotters of the 28 May 2001 coup attempt. CEMAC, the only international organisation that has recognised Bozize's administration, also launched an urgent appeal to the international community to help thousands of CAR nationals who were displaced by fighting between government and rebel troops between October 2002 and March 2003. The summit reaffirmed its position to reinforce the 350-man CEMAC peacekeeping force that has been in the CAR since December 2002. However, the summit did not spell out the new mandate of the force; which was initially in the CAR to protect Patasse, secure the CAR-Chad border and restructure the army. With troops from Chad, Gabon and the Republic of Congo, the CEMAC force is expected to contribute to the restoration of security in the CAR and in the restructuring of the army.