Ex-president renamed as militia head

PHOTO | AHMED OUOBA Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso (centre) and former Central African Republic President Michel Djotodia (right) arrive to take part in a ceremony on October 17, 2013 in Ouagadougou.

What you need to know:

  • The ex-president of the landlocked former French colony is subject to United States and United Nations sanctions as is Seleka’s second-in-command Adam, and former president Francois Bozize.

BANGUI, Saturday

The former president of war-torn Central African Republic Michel Djotodia, who led the rebel Seleka militia that swept him to power last year, was renamed head of the movement on Saturday.

Djotodia fled power in January under strong international pressure for his failure to rein in rogue ex-rebels, who relentlessly murdered, raped and looted civilians.

“As well as the continuation of Djotodia, the former second- and third-in-command, Nourredine Adam and Mohammed Moussa Dhaffane, were reappointed during the general assembly,” a source close to Seleka told AFP.

The ex-president of the landlocked former French colony is subject to United States and United Nations sanctions as is Seleka’s second-in-command Adam, and former president Francois Bozize.

Seleka, which is still engaged in violence in central and northern regions, has been plagued by infighting since it was forced from Bangui in January, in part due to the intervention of French and African troops in December 2013.