Normalcy returns to war-ravaged Sibut town

Displaced people have returned to their homes, markets are reopening and administration officials have reported to their duty stations in the town of Sibut, 185 km northeast of Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, state-owned Radio Centrafrique reported on Wednesday. "All is well, no security problem and markets are now opening," Simplice Makassi, the deputy governor of Kemo Province, was quoted as saying. Speaking from Sibut, Makassi said that the people had returned from the bush, and that the province's governor arrived in the town on Friday. The police, gendarmerie and the army were already in the town, he added. He said that volunteers started cleaning administrative buildings on Tuesday. However, Makassi said the town still lacked financial services from the government. Sibut was among the towns that suffered the most during the October 2002-March 2003 fighting between rebel troops loyal to Francois Bozize and government forces. During the fighting, Sibut changed hands several times, forcing the residents to flee into the bush. Bozize overthrew President Ange-Felix Patasse on 15 March. Like other towns, hospitals and other public and private buildings were looted or destroyed soon after the coup. Until recently, the town was inaccessible as insecurity persisted. The government started recently sending governors, military, police and gendarmerie officials in most of the areas that were previously under rebel control.