A former commander of the Central African Republic Army has declared himself the new leader of the country following a coup that occurred during the president's trip abroad. General François Bozizé, in his radio speech yesterday, stated that he would dissolve the parliament and suspend the constitution, but promised to hold new elections after a transitional period. He said that this coup would create a short and temporary interruption in democracy. Forces under General Bozizé's command took control of the airport and the presidential palace in Bangui, the capital of the country, on Saturday. The coup took place while Ange-Félix Patassé, the president of the Central African Republic, was on a trip abroad. Mr. Patassé, who has faced multiple coups during his presidency and survived them all, is currently in Cameroon. The African Union condemned the coup in the Central African Republic and stated that it would soon decide on its next actions.
A Former Commander of the Central African Republic Army Declares Himself the New Leader of the Country - 2003-03-17
General François Bozizé has declared himself the new leader of the Central African Republic following a coup during President Ange-Félix Patassé's trip abroad. The African Union has condemned the coup and will consider its response. This situation highlights ongoing instability in the region.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
General François Bozizé declared himself the new leader of the Central African Republic after a coup while President Ange-Félix Patassé was abroad. He announced the dissolution of parliament and suspension of the constitution, promising future elections.
- The coup occurred during President Patassé's trip to Cameroon.
- Bozizé's forces took control of key locations in the capital, Bangui.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Central African Republic has a history of political instability and coups, with leaders often facing challenges to their authority. This coup is a continuation of that trend.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%