Battle of Bangui

The Battle of Bangui occurred in March 2013, during the ongoing Central African Republic Civil War, and resulted in Séléka taking power in the Central African Republic. With the Central African Armed Forces and international soldiers absent, most of the resistance was raised by South African soldiers.[1][2]

Battle of Bangui
Part of Central African Republic Civil War
Date23–24 March 2013
Location
Bangui
Result

Decisive Séléka victory

  • Séléka took control of Bangui
  • Michel Djotodia declared himself president
Belligerents
 Central African Republic
 South Africa		 Séléka
Commanders and leaders
François Bozizé  
Col. William Dixon		 Michel Djotodia
Units involved
5 Special Forces Regiment
1 Parachute Battalion
7 Medical Battalion Group		 CPJP
UFDR
Strength
200 soldiers
2,000 soldiers (not present)		 5,000 – 7,000 soldiers
Casualties and losses
13 dead and 27 wounded 500-800 killed, 1000s wounded

Background

On 18 March 2013, the rebels, having taken over Gambo and Bangassou, threatened to take up arms again if their demands for the release of political prisoners, the integration of their forces into the national army and for South African soldiers to leave the country, were not met within 72 hours.[3] Three days later, they took control of the towns of Damara and Bossangoa.[4]

Battle

On 23 March Séléka rebels entered Bangui's outskirts. At 19:00 Christian Narkoyo, spokesman of Séléka, announced that rebel forces had crossed the PK12 neighbourhood with little resistance. Rebels also cut electricity from city by turning off Bouali power plant. In reaction to rebel advancements, French forces secured Bangui airport. At 8:15 on 24 March fighting erupted in the city centre. At 8:48 Djouma Narkoyo announced that rebels had captured the presidential palace and that President François Bozizé had fled. Soldiers from the Multinational Force of Central Africa were deployed to protect foreign embassies and French soldiers participated in securing the city to avoid looting. By 12:00 it was announced that the rebels controlled the entire city with only some pockets of resistance remaining. On 18:31 Michel Djotodia declared himself new President of the country.[5][6]

References
  1. Heitman, Helmoed Römer. "How deadly CAR battle unfolded". Independent Online. Sunday Independent. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  2. Heitman, Helmoed (2013). The Battle in Bangui: The untold inside story (PDF). South Africa: Parktown Publishers. pp. 25–35. ISBN 978-0-9921902-8-6. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  3. Hippolyte Marboua and Krista Larson, "Central African Republic rebels threaten new fight" Archived 17 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine, Associated Press, 18 March 2013.
  4. "Central African Republic rebels reach outskirts of capital". Reuters. 22 March 2013. Archived from the original on 16 April 2013.
  5. "RCA: revivez la journée du samedi 23 mars" (in French). 23 March 2013.
  6. "Centrafrique: revivez la journée du dimanche 24 mars" (in French). 24 March 2013.
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