Francois Bozize
The former president of
Central African Republic, Francois Bozize, will return from exile to contest a
presidential election in October two years after he was forced from power, the
leader of his Kwa Na Kwa political party said on Monday.
His return would be
complicated because the government that succeeded him issued an international
warrant for his arrest in 2013, accusing him of crimes against humanity and
incitement to genocide. He also faces U.N. travel and banking sanctions.
Thousands of fighters
from a rebel coalition called the Seleka, angered by what they said was
Bozize's refusal to honor an earlier peace deal, toppled Bozize in March 2013
after 10 years in power
He fled to neighboring
Cameroon and currently spends time in Uganda and Kenya.
His fall led to a chaotic
period as the predominantly Muslim Seleka seized power, prompting reprisal
attacks by "anti-balaka" Christian militia that drove tens of
thousands of Muslims from the south in a de facto partition.
Although attacks in the
capital have eased in recent months and a U.N. peacekeeping mission has been
deployed, sporadic violence occurs.
"No electoral
campaign can be conducted from a distance so Francois Bozize will come back to
the country and we will do all we can so that he returns," said Bertin
Bea, party secretary general.
Bea, who led the party's
congress on Friday, said he spoke regularly with Bozize, 69. No law stopped the
former president from being a candidate, he said, adding that it was up to
transitional authorities to ensure the candidate's security.
Bozize's former Prime
Minister Faustin Archange Touadera has announced his candidacy for the election
set to be held on Oct. 18 with a second rounded if necessary on Nov. 22. The
transitional court will rule on who is eligible to run.
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