Central African rebels agree to peace talks

On December 28, rebel forces in the Central African Republic agreed to send representatives to peace negotiations in neighboring Gabon.

This is considered a positive signal in the context of ongoing fighting between government forces and rebels in the country, raising concerns about escalating violence and a humanitarian crisis.

Rebels in the Central African Republic. (Source: presstv.ir)

Information released by the African Union (AU) on December 28 said that AU representatives had met with the Central African rebels and convinced them to send a delegation to the capital Libreville of Gabon to negotiate a peace agreement and end the crisis. The negotiations are expected to take place on January 10, 2013.

Meanwhile, military sources said fighting continued between government troops and Seleka rebels to gain control of the city of Bambari, which had been captured by the rebels earlier. Concerned about the tense situation, countries in the region have agreed to deploy more troops to Central Africa to protect the capital Banghi from the rapid attack of the rebels.

The political crisis in the Central African Republic is pushing the country into chaos and raising concerns from the international community. Tensions have escalated since the Seleka rebels seized several key towns, advancing closer to the capital, threatening the government of President Francois Bozize.

Rebels accuse President Bozize and the government of failing to comply with the terms of peace treaties signed between the two sides between 2007 and 201. Many residents have now had to evacuate from Banghi, while the US has also temporarily suspended its embassy there.

The Central African Republic, with a population of about 4.5 million, has been plagued by frequent uprisings and rebel resistance since it gained independence from France in 1960. President Bozize himself took power in a 2005 coup.

France is currently deploying about 250 soldiers at Banghi airport with the mission of providing technical support to a peacekeeping mission led by the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS)./.

According to (TTXVN) - DT