THIRTEEN South African soldiers were killed and 27 wounded in an intense 13-hour battle with rebels in the Central African Republic (CAR) .
One soldier was missing, SA National Defence Force chief General Solly Shoke told reporters in Pretoria.
“The SANDF fighting force of about 200 members faced a rebel force of more than 3000 that advanced towards Bangui on two main axes,” Shoke said.
“This was a high-tempo battle that took more than 13 hours.”
He said the rest of the force in CAR were in a good state and receiving all the support they deserved.
“Our troops are still there until there is a political arrangement.
“We will be advised. Our government will decide to pull out or not. Running away is not an option.”
All the wounded had been evacuated to 1 Military Hospital in Pretoria and were in a stable condition. Those slightly hurt were treated on the scene and were able to carry on with their responsibilities.
He said the soldiers came under attack from rebels on the outskirts of Bangui on Saturday.
After the battle a truce was agreed.
“The rebels came with a white flag – if someone is carrying a white flag you cannot shoot them,” he said.
Shoke said the ceasefire agreement had not been broken in the last 24 hours.
“It is worth mentioning that the rebels apologised for having exchanged fire with the members of the SANDF and indicated that they regret that this had transpired.”
He said the South African soldiers were in CAR by way of an agreement between the two countries since 2007. In December last year, the SANDF deployed a support and protection team to protect the SANDF contingent that had been in CAR for training and capacity building purposes.
Two days after sweeping into the capital and overthrowing the nation’s president, one of the leaders of the rebel coalition has already declared himself president, saying he considers himself to be the new head of state.
However, another rebel leader told reporters his group does not recognise Michel Djotodia as president, and says they will challenge his attempt to install himself at the helm.
Djotodia was asked by a French radio station if they should address him as Mr President. He answered in an interview broadcast by RFI radio on Monday: “I can consider myself to be, at this moment, the head of state.”
Asked how long he would stay in power, Djotodia suggested that he would stay as long as three years, the time remaining in the unfinished term of President Francois Bozize, who fled the capital over the weekend and whose whereabouts are now unknown.
“We’ve just barely started, and you are asking me how long I plan to stay in power? . I can’t say, because you know full well that we need time to bring back peace.
“ It was said in Libreville that we should respect the three-year timeline for organising free and transparent elections. We won’t stay any longer,” he told RFI.
In Paris, Nelson N’Jadder, president of the Revolution for Democracy, one of the rebel groups belonging to the Seleka coalition which invaded the capital, said that his fighters did not recognise Djotodia.
He said the members of the rebel coalition had agreed that their aim was to push to the presidential palace and then announce an 18-month-long transition before new elections are held.
There was never a consensus around appointing Djotodia as their overall leader, he said.
Last week, the rebel coalition declared the peace deal void, saying Bozize had failed to free prisoners and had refused to send back the South African troops guarding him, two of the points of the accord.
In just three days, they swept past Damara, marking the “red line” set up by a regional force to divide rebel-held territory from the area under government control, and advanced all the way to a checkpoint, PK12, just outside the capital.
The speed of the rebel advance, and the fact that they succeeded in pushing past the South African troops stationed in Bangui suggests they were well-armed and likely benefiting from the support of neighbouring nations.
There has been speculation that Chad, Sudan or Gabon provided the rebels with arms and logistical support, although Djotodia rejected the claim.
“If we picked up arms, it’s not because we were pushed by this or that person,” he told RFI. “It’s poverty, simply put, that pushed us to pick up arms – that’s all.” — Sapa with additional reporting by Rukmini Callimachi of Associated Press
General describes SA battle
One soldier was missing, SA National Defence Force chief General Solly Shoke told reporters in Pretoria.
“The SANDF fighting force of about 200 members faced a rebel force of more than 3000 that advanced towards Bangui on two main axes,” Shoke said.
“This was a high-tempo battle that took more than 13 hours.”
He said the rest of the force in CAR were in a good state and receiving all the support they deserved.
“Our troops are still there until there is a political arrangement.
“We will be advised. Our government will decide to pull out or not. Running away is not an option.”
All the wounded had been evacuated to 1 Military Hospital in Pretoria and were in a stable condition. Those slightly hurt were treated on the scene and were able to carry on with their responsibilities.
He said the soldiers came under attack from rebels on the outskirts of Bangui on Saturday.
After the battle a truce was agreed.
“The rebels came with a white flag – if someone is carrying a white flag you cannot shoot them,” he said.
Shoke said the ceasefire agreement had not been broken in the last 24 hours.
“It is worth mentioning that the rebels apologised for having exchanged fire with the members of the SANDF and indicated that they regret that this had transpired.”
He said the South African soldiers were in CAR by way of an agreement between the two countries since 2007. In December last year, the SANDF deployed a support and protection team to protect the SANDF contingent that had been in CAR for training and capacity building purposes.
Two days after sweeping into the capital and overthrowing the nation’s president, one of the leaders of the rebel coalition has already declared himself president, saying he considers himself to be the new head of state.
However, another rebel leader told reporters his group does not recognise Michel Djotodia as president, and says they will challenge his attempt to install himself at the helm.
Djotodia was asked by a French radio station if they should address him as Mr President. He answered in an interview broadcast by RFI radio on Monday: “I can consider myself to be, at this moment, the head of state.”
Asked how long he would stay in power, Djotodia suggested that he would stay as long as three years, the time remaining in the unfinished term of President Francois Bozize, who fled the capital over the weekend and whose whereabouts are now unknown.
“We’ve just barely started, and you are asking me how long I plan to stay in power? . I can’t say, because you know full well that we need time to bring back peace.
“ It was said in Libreville that we should respect the three-year timeline for organising free and transparent elections. We won’t stay any longer,” he told RFI.
In Paris, Nelson N’Jadder, president of the Revolution for Democracy, one of the rebel groups belonging to the Seleka coalition which invaded the capital, said that his fighters did not recognise Djotodia.
He said the members of the rebel coalition had agreed that their aim was to push to the presidential palace and then announce an 18-month-long transition before new elections are held.
There was never a consensus around appointing Djotodia as their overall leader, he said.
Last week, the rebel coalition declared the peace deal void, saying Bozize had failed to free prisoners and had refused to send back the South African troops guarding him, two of the points of the accord.
In just three days, they swept past Damara, marking the “red line” set up by a regional force to divide rebel-held territory from the area under government control, and advanced all the way to a checkpoint, PK12, just outside the capital.
The speed of the rebel advance, and the fact that they succeeded in pushing past the South African troops stationed in Bangui suggests they were well-armed and likely benefiting from the support of neighbouring nations.
There has been speculation that Chad, Sudan or Gabon provided the rebels with arms and logistical support, although Djotodia rejected the claim.
“If we picked up arms, it’s not because we were pushed by this or that person,” he told RFI. “It’s poverty, simply put, that pushed us to pick up arms – that’s all.” — Sapa with additional reporting by Rukmini Callimachi of Associated Press
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos