HEAVILY armed Seleka rebels are driving around the streets of the capital of Central African Republic (CAR) in vehicles captured from the South African National Defence Force.
One group of rebels were seen draped over a Toyota Landcruiser marked with the insignia of Operation Vimbezela, the SANDF mission in CAR.
A machine gun was mounted on the roof of the vehicle.
Witnesses reported seeing several other South African military vehicles in rebel hands, some with “Seleka” painted on them in crude lettering – a graphic indictment of a “peace mission” gone horribly wrong.
Thirteen South African soldiers lost their lives in fierce fighting just over a week ago as rebel soldiers advanced in a coup that ended in their leader Michel Djotodia being swept to power.
The mission has been widely criticised by those who believe it was launched to protect private business interests linked to the ANC government, and to prop up the unpopular and authoritarian president, François Bozizé, who has fled the country.
The ANC released a strongly worded statement denying it had business interests in the CAR.
It accused the Mail & Guardian newspaper, which detailed the alleged links last week, of “pissing on the graves of gallant fighters who put their lives on the line in service of our country and our continent”.
Despite sporadic gunfire, an uneasy calm has now descended on Bangui with rebel troops thronging the streets on foot and patrolling every corner of the sweltering city in bakkies rigged with heavy machine guns and bristling with rocket-propelled grenades.
Markets reopened and pedestrians have ventured onto the streets again but rebels and private security guards can be seen posted outside some buildings to prevent a repeat of the earlier rampant looting.
Bangui airport remained heavily guarded by French troops. A small contingent of South African troops is at an adjacent base.
The Sunday Times reported South African soldiers were “devastated” when forced to fire on the rebels’ child soldiers.
The national secretary of the SA National Defence Union, Pikkie Greeff, has called on coup leader Djotodia to be indicted by the International Criminal Court for using child soldiers.
CAR rebels seen using SANDF cars
One group of rebels were seen draped over a Toyota Landcruiser marked with the insignia of Operation Vimbezela, the SANDF mission in CAR.
A machine gun was mounted on the roof of the vehicle.
Witnesses reported seeing several other South African military vehicles in rebel hands, some with “Seleka” painted on them in crude lettering – a graphic indictment of a “peace mission” gone horribly wrong.
Thirteen South African soldiers lost their lives in fierce fighting just over a week ago as rebel soldiers advanced in a coup that ended in their leader Michel Djotodia being swept to power.
The mission has been widely criticised by those who believe it was launched to protect private business interests linked to the ANC government, and to prop up the unpopular and authoritarian president, François Bozizé, who has fled the country.
The ANC released a strongly worded statement denying it had business interests in the CAR.
It accused the Mail & Guardian newspaper, which detailed the alleged links last week, of “pissing on the graves of gallant fighters who put their lives on the line in service of our country and our continent”.
Despite sporadic gunfire, an uneasy calm has now descended on Bangui with rebel troops thronging the streets on foot and patrolling every corner of the sweltering city in bakkies rigged with heavy machine guns and bristling with rocket-propelled grenades.
Markets reopened and pedestrians have ventured onto the streets again but rebels and private security guards can be seen posted outside some buildings to prevent a repeat of the earlier rampant looting.
Bangui airport remained heavily guarded by French troops. A small contingent of South African troops is at an adjacent base.
The Sunday Times reported South African soldiers were “devastated” when forced to fire on the rebels’ child soldiers.
The national secretary of the SA National Defence Union, Pikkie Greeff, has called on coup leader Djotodia to be indicted by the International Criminal Court for using child soldiers.
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