STORIES : The Forgotten Heart of Africa
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The Forgotten Heart of Africa (Central African Republic)
By
Ronald De Hommel
Image ID: 474RDH_NV_016
The Paoua market is nearly deserted. Hundreds of people from this small town in the northwest of the CAR fled their homes after rumours that the Presidential Guard (PG) was approaching town. A few days earlier on april 14, 2009, Colonel Laurent of the rebel group APRD (’ArmeÌe Populaire pour la Restauration de la DeÌmocratie / Popular Army for the Restoration of Democracy) had executed in broad daylight, Mr.Soule Garga, the president of the National Federation of Cattle Breeders (FNEC) on the busy marketplace. The population feared a revenge attack by the Presidential Guard (the feared personal militia of president BozizeÌ of the CAR), which is said to be guilty of murdering hundreds of civilians and burning down thousands of homes, causing at least 100,000 people to flee into the bush since 2006.
Keywords:
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