Central African Republic army retakes strategic town near Cameroon border Reuters 2/9/2021
DAKAR, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Central African Republic s army, backed by Russian and Rwandan allies, regained full control on Tuesday of a strategic town near the western border with Cameroon that had been attacked by rebel forces last month, the government spokesman said.
The army has been battling a coalition of rebels since the weeks before a disputed Dec. 27 election, in which President Faustin-Archange Touadera won a second term. The violence has forced more than 200,000 civilians to flee their homes.
The rebels attacked Bouar, a market town about 100 km (60 miles) from the border with Cameroon, on Jan. 9. They also attacked the capital Bangui a few days later, although they were swiftly pushed back by the army and U.N. peacekeepers.
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Centrafrique: la contre-offensive s amplifie à partir de Bangui
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Central African Republic troops killed 44 rebel fighters participating in a push to encircle the capital Bangui and overturn newly-reelected President Faustin Archange Touadera, the government said Monday.
Together with “allied forces”, the CAR army launched an offensive in the village of Boyali, around 90 kilometres (56 miles) from the capital, with no casualties on the government side and “44 dead including several mercenaries from Chad, Sudan and the Fulani” ethnic group, the government posted on Facebook.
When the government says “allies”, it is usually referring to Rwandan troops and Russian paramilitaries which have been sent to the conflict-plagued country to reinforce federal troops.