CAR's rebel without a cause

The attempt to arrest Bozize sparked the latest fighting

By Lucy Jones in Bangui

The Central African Republic's ousted army chief, General Francois Bozize is a deeply religious man, an intellectual and, until last month, was widely regarded as a government loyalist.

But the violent clashes in recent days in the capital, Bangui, between parts of the army backing him and those following the orders of the country's increasingly beleaguered President, Ange-Felix Patasse, confirm that little loyalty remains.

He has served as a pastor. He is one of our better leaders

A neighbour

Many people were surprised at his dismissal on 26 October and at the attempt last week-end by presidential guards to arrest him in connection a coup attempt in May.

"Bozize has been through thick and thin with Patasse. One wonders whether Patasse has now become overly paranoid and is suspecting everybody close to him of being involved in May's events," said a diplomat in Bangui.

Tortured

General Bozize accompanied the president during his exile in Togo during the military dictatorship of Andre Kolingba between 1981 and 1993.

A long-time political player; Mr Kolingba's officials tortured him in a particularly grotesque way and also imprisoned him.

General Bozize has defended Mr Patasse against previous coups

On returning to political life in 1993, when Mr Patasse took power in a democratically-held election, the general apparently had the opportunity seek revenge on his tormentors but chose not to take it - a decision that earned him great respect in Bangui

A neighbour of the sacked army chief said that he is a devout Christian and regularly attends church.

"He has served as a pastor. He is one of our better leaders," he said.

Fellow northerner

The sacked army chief is from the Gbaya ethnic group, based in the north, like the Sara of Mr Patasse.

During mutinies in 1996 and 1997, General Bozize defended the president.

Some people have tipped him to be the next president but it is not a position he wants. He says he is not a political person

Foreign ministry official

But since May's coup attempt, the relationship between the two men has soured.

In the summer, the former army chief spent several nights holed up in an army barracks with his supporters after rumours spread that he was going to be called before the much-feared putsch investigation committee, set up following May¿s events

But the short, pot-bellied general, who surrounds himself with female, as well as male soldiers, denies playing a part in the bloodshed, which former President Andre Kolingba has admitted heading.

Chugging

"I was completely ignorant of what was being planned. It was a coup d'etat and like all coup d'etats it was a surprise. I first found out about it while on patrol when I heard gun-shots in the early hours of the morning," he told BBC News Online before the recent fighting began.

"About 10% of my army were involved; there were no more than 500 rebels. They must have prepared for the attack for a long time, collecting weapons and money but we knew nothing about it," he said in a firm, quietly-spoken way.

Bozize has been close to Patasse but not any more

But the cloud of suspicion hanging over General Bozize seemed to blow over and the general could once again be seen chugging around Bangui in a battered Citron, waving to the many people he knew on the street.

Always dressed in fatigues, he also attended embassy cocktail parties this summer, equally at ease talking with diplomats and ministers or the young soldiers on duty.

Diplomats say General Bozize, a stern but popular leader, presently has support of more than 75% of the army. Mr Patasse is protected by a guard of 500 well-trained and well-armed personnel, as well as his Libyan allies.

Intellectual

An intellectual, whose modest hilltop office overlooking the Obangui river is filled with books and journals, he has support in other quarters.

"Some people have tipped him to be the next president but it is not a position he wants. He says he is not a political person," said a foreign ministry official.

From his stronghold in the northern Fou district, he this week demanded the abolition of the investigation committee into the coup, not a change in government.

"There is still a certain sense of physical insecurity about his person. He has always been bringing it up. I know that is dear to him. But we have been trying everyday to persuade him that his security will be guaranteed, because the government has given me that assurance," said General Lamine Cisse, representative of the UN secretary general in Bangui, who has conducted lengthy negotiating with General Bozize over the last few days.

As General Bozize is a northerner, like Mr Patasse, he could split the president's support.

Whether he will do that or not is as yet unclear, although it is evident that the former chief of staff is a well-respected leader with many allies.