| Battle of Bangui | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part ofCentral African Republic Civil War | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Central African Republic South Africa | Séléka | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
François Bozizé  Col.William Dixon | Michel DjotodiaIssa Issaka Aubin[1]Arda Hakouma[1] | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
| 5 Special Forces Regiment1 Parachute Battalion7 Medical Battalion Group | CPJPUFDR | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 200 soldiers 2,000 soldiers (not present) | 5,000 – 7,000 soldiers | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 13 dead and 27 wounded, 2 later died in the military hospital in South Africa | 500–800 killed, 1,000s wounded | ||||||
TheBattle of Bangui occurred in March 2013, during the ongoingCentral African Republic Civil War, and resulted inSéléka taking power in theCentral African Republic. With theCentral African Armed Forces and international soldiers absent, most of the resistance was raised bySouth African soldiers.[2][3]
On 18 March 2013, the rebels, having taken overGambo andBangassou, 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 forSouth African soldiers to leave the country, were not met within 72 hours.[4] Three days later, they took control of the towns of Damara andBossangoa.[5]
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 securedBangui airport. At 8:15 on 24 March fighting erupted in the city centre. At 8:48 Djouma Narkoyo announced that rebels had captured thepresidential palace and that PresidentFrançois Bozizé had fled. By 12:00 it was announced that the rebels controlled the entire city with only some pockets of resistance remaining. On 18:31Michel Djotodia declared himself new President of the country.[6][7]
Séléka reportedly enjoyed the support ofChadian presidentIdriss Déby, who had struck a deal with the group that Chadian agents would get hold of key posts in the Central African state apparatus after a takeover. Thus, according to a number of observers, the 2013 coup occurred with financial and logistic support from Chad.[8][9] However, Déby categorically denied these allegations.[10]
