Provincial governors in plea for transport to their stations

The government in the Central African Republic (CAR) has been asked to provide vehicles for newly appointed deputy provincial governors to enable them to report to their stations across the country, state-owned Television Centrafricaine reported. The television reported on Friday that nine out of the 71 deputy provincial governors made the request when they met CAR leader Francois Bozize. All nine were female appointees. Their representative, Edith Yolande Delombo, also called for the renovation of administrative buildings that were damaged or destroyed during and after six months of fighting between government troops and rebels from October 2002 until March 2003. The television reported that Bozize had promised to act on the requests made by the deputy governors. In a memorandum presented to a visiting UN mission on 21 June, the government requested 5.3 billion francs CFA (US $9.6 million) to rehabilitate destroyed administrative buildings in Bangui, the capital, and in the provinces. Soon after Bozize overthrew President Ange-Felix Patasse on 15 March, mobs looted and destroyed many buildings housing government ministries, including the prime minister’s office, which is now housed in a building owned by an oil company. The war between the government troops and Bozize's fighters caused serious damage to public and private property. Buildings were looted and destroyed, and vehicles were stolen. The deputy governors also urged Bozize to restore security in regions that were affected by the war. So far, despite some measures such as disarmament campaigns and the deployment of government troops in some regions, Bozize has yet to restore calm in northern and central parts of the country. The absence of military and administrative authorities in most provinces has discouraged those who had been displaced by the fighting from returning home. Addressing all the 71 deputy governors on Wednesday, the minister in charge of territorial administration, Marcel Malonga, urged them to reassure the population in the areas of their jurisdiction. Previously, Malonga had said that only governors in the northwest had reported to their duty stations.