Border with CAR closed

The Central African Republic (CAR) closed its border crossings with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Tuesday in an effort to stop the cross-border flow of arms and dissidents, AP reported. Home Affairs Minister Theodore Bicko announced on state television that the border would be closed until further notice. Although Bicko gave no reason, AP noted that the border zone has been tense since a failed coup in late May. An estimated 25,000 CAR citizens fled across the Ubangui River to the DRC town of Zongo to escape hostilities following the military uprising, which was lead by former military ruler General Andre Kolingba. Security forces allege many of the weapons used in the uprising were smuggled in from the DRC and the CAR government has repeatedly accused the DRC of sheltering fleeing dissidents.

AP further noted that it was unclear what impact the border closure would have on Congolese rebel leader Jean-Pierre Bemba, whose Mouvement pour la liberation du Congo (MLC) forces control northern DRC and who sent fighters to support CAR President Ange Felix-Patasse in the recent coup attempt. Cut off from the rest of the DRC by a three-year war, the MLC rebel zone gets much of its goods from CAR.