Rebels in the Central African Republic say they have agreed to a temporary cease-fire deal with the government. Representatives of the Seleka rebel coalition say they reached the agreement Thursday, during talks with the C.A.R. government and opposition leaders in Gabon’s capital, Libreville. The cease-fire is reportedly for one week. There was no immediate word […]
Bozize Supporters Build Roadblocks in C.A.R. Capital
Posted January 2nd, 2013 at 8:45 am (UTC-5)
Supporters of Central African Republic President Francois Bozize have set up roadblocks in the capital, Bangui, saying they want to stop any rebel incursion. French media reports say young men describing themselves as “patriots” are manning checkpoints where they stop vehicles and question occupants in a search for rebel fighters. The rebel coalition known as […]
US Closes Embassy in Central African Republic; Evacuates Staff
Posted December 27th, 2012 at 8:55 pm (UTC-5)
The United States has temporarily shut down its embassy in the Central African Republic and evacuated the staff, because of a rebel threat to topple the government. A State Department spokesman Thursday said Washington is urging all parties to begin peace talks to offer a new vision of security for the country. He said U.S. […]
France: Protecting Interests, Not Intervening in Central African Republic
Posted December 27th, 2012 at 5:40 am (UTC-5)
French President Francois Hollande says France has a presence in the Central African Republic to protect its interests and nationals, not to intervene in the country’s business. Mr. Hollande spoke Thursday, a day after protesters critical of France’s inaction during a rebel advance in the C.A.R. threw stones at the French embassy in the capital, […]
EU Diplomat Pledges Closer Ties to Central Asia
Posted November 27th, 2012 at 1:20 pm (UTC-5)
The European Union’s foreign policy chief is pledging closer ties with Central Asia, especially in economic cooperation and on security issues. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton held a joint news conference Tuesday with Kyrgyzstan’s foreign minister, Erlan Abdyldayev. Speaking in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, Ashton said the EU supports […]
US Central Bank Weighing New Economic Stimulus
Posted September 12th, 2012 at 3:15 pm (UTC-5)
Policy makers at the U.S. central bank are weighing whether to adopt new policies to try to boost the country’s sluggish economy. Officials at the Federal Reserve started a two-day meeting Wednesday and plan to announce any actions they take at mid-day Thursday. The U.S. economy is the world’s largest. But it has struggled to […]
UN: LRA Attacks on Rise in Central Africa
Posted March 30th, 2012 at 10:00 am (UTC-5)
The U.N. refugee agency is reporting a new wave of violence by the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army in central Africa. The UNHCR says that since March 6 there have been 13 new LRA attacks reported in the northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, mostly in the Dungu territory. It says two people were killed, and 13 […]
Swiss National Bank Chief Resigns Amid Trade Scandal
Posted January 9th, 2012 at 11:00 am (UTC-5)
The head of the Swiss National Bank has stepped down after a scandal involving a controversial currency trade made by his wife. In a statement, the bank said Philipp Hildebrand’s resignation takes effect immediately. Hildebrand on Thursday denied any wrongdoing, following media reports about alleged insider trading on a dollar trade his wife made in […]
Security Council Condemns LRA Rebels
Posted November 15th, 2011 at 2:40 am (UTC-5)
The U.N. Security Council has strongly condemned the actions of the Lord’s Resistance Army saying the rebel group continues to commit human rights abuses. In a statement Monday, the Council demanded the LRA end all attacks, particularly against civilians, and insisted the rebels disarm and surrender. It also condemned the group’s recruitment of children. The […]
Official: US Mission Against LRA To Last ‘Months’
Posted October 25th, 2011 at 2:35 pm (UTC-5)
A top U.S. military official says the U.S. mission against a violent central African rebel group is likely to last for months, but that it has no specific timetable. President Barack Obama announced this month that he was sending 100 military personnel to help central African governments fight the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army. Defense and […]
