Michel Djotodia, the rebel leader who seized control of Central African Republic only to see the desperately poor country tumble toward anarchy and sectarian bloodshed, agreed to resign on Friday along with his Prime Minister, regional officials announced.
On the streets of Bangui, the capital of Central African Republic, there was jubilation about the possibility that the terrible security situation might change.
“Finally we are free! We are going to return home at last,” said Carine Gbegbe, who has been living in a displacement camp on the southern outskirts of the capital.
There has been growing pressure for Mr. Djotodia to step aside. The resignation should help placate the armed militias who have used to violence to seek his ouster. However, his departure could also create an even greater power vacuum in a land that has long known coups and dictatorship.
Ahmat Allami, the Secretary-General of the Economic Community of Central African States, made the announcement following a summit in neighboring Chad on the crisis. Legislators from Central African Republic also were flown to the Chadian capital of N’Djamena on Thursday to take part in the discussions.
Mr. Djotodia’s departure leaves the country in the hands of a weak transitional government. Prime Minister Nicolas Tiangaye, a longtime opposition leader prior to the March 2013 coup, is also stepping aside, Mr. Allami said.
Under its charter, the national transitional council led by Alexandre Ferdinand Nguendet now has 15 days to choose another interim President to replace Mr. Djotodia.
Rumours of a Djotodia resignation had spread across the capital of Bangui this week, prompting the presidency to release a sharply worded denial. However, it had become clear in the past month that patience with Mr. Djotodia was waning within the international community. While Mr. Djotodia had issued messages calling for peace in the streets, only French troops and African peacekeepers had been able to stop some of the mob attacks.
A frustrated Mr. Djotodia responded by saying no one could solve Central African Republic’s myriad of problems in just eight months.
“I am not God, I hope. I am a man like you. And this country is vast 623,000 square kilometres,” he told reporters. “You could bring an angel from the sky to govern this country and there would still be problems.”
Central African Republic has long been one of the world’s most unstable countries. The March 2013 coup brought heavily armed rebels to power who then proceeded to carry out atrocities against civilians. The rebels are mostly from the minority Muslim population and hail from the country’s long-marginalised north, and the resentment toward their abuses transformed the conflict into one with religious undertones.
In early December 2013, a Christian militia backed by loyalists of ousted President Francois Bozize attacked the capital. In the violent aftermath, more than 1,000 people were killed and nearly 1 million fled their homes in fear. An estimated 100,000 people alone have sought shelter at the airport being guarded by French troops.
Former coloniser France has sent some 1,600 troops in an effort to stabilize the country and an African peacekeeping force has provided thousands of additional soldiers. However, violence continues to wrack the capital of Bangui. Muslims who are suspected of collaborating with Mr. Djotodia’s rebellion have been stoned to death in the streets and their bodies mutilated.
