PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma and International Relations Minister Maite Nkoane-Mashabane are expected to attend a meeting today in the Republic of Congo about the crisis in the Central African Republic (CAR).
The meeting comes against the backdrop of thawing relations between the Seleka rebels‚ who seized control of the CAR and South Africa‚ long regarded as supporters of the vanquished former president Francois Bozizé.
This week Zuma hosted a CAR delegation led by prime minister Nicolas Tiangaye in Pretoria.
Commenting on the visit‚ Zuma said: “We are very happy with the message (brought by Tiangaye).
“We have had a very good discussion with the prime minister.
“We think it has helped to clarify certain things and also to deal with the relations between the two countries.”
South Africa recognises the CAR’s transitional government under a cease- fire agreement signed in Libreville‚ Gabon. Part of the transitional road map endorsed by the Economic Community of Central African States was the formation of a national transition council which subsequently elected Michel Djotodia‚ leader of the Seleka rebels‚ as interim president .
Tiangaye, who is part of the transitional government meant to prepare for elections within 18 months, said : “The message I brought is a message of calm and peace. We would like to take that unfortunate incident as a page of history that we will now turn.
“We regret that the past relations with the former president were more personalised‚ and we are now aiming at improving these relations to be more at a state level.
“It was not the fault of President Zuma or the government of South Africa. It was because President Bozizé was hiding the nature of the relationship between the two countries‚” he said.
Department of International Relations spokesman Clayson Monyela said the political and security situation in the CAR would be discussed .
Thirteen South African soldiers were killed and 27 wounded on March 23 when they were attacked by Seleka rebel fighters near the capital‚ Bangui.
CAR rebels make peace with SA
The meeting comes against the backdrop of thawing relations between the Seleka rebels‚ who seized control of the CAR and South Africa‚ long regarded as supporters of the vanquished former president Francois Bozizé.
This week Zuma hosted a CAR delegation led by prime minister Nicolas Tiangaye in Pretoria.
Commenting on the visit‚ Zuma said: “We are very happy with the message (brought by Tiangaye).
“We have had a very good discussion with the prime minister.
“We think it has helped to clarify certain things and also to deal with the relations between the two countries.”
South Africa recognises the CAR’s transitional government under a cease- fire agreement signed in Libreville‚ Gabon. Part of the transitional road map endorsed by the Economic Community of Central African States was the formation of a national transition council which subsequently elected Michel Djotodia‚ leader of the Seleka rebels‚ as interim president .
Tiangaye, who is part of the transitional government meant to prepare for elections within 18 months, said : “The message I brought is a message of calm and peace. We would like to take that unfortunate incident as a page of history that we will now turn.
“We regret that the past relations with the former president were more personalised‚ and we are now aiming at improving these relations to be more at a state level.
“It was not the fault of President Zuma or the government of South Africa. It was because President Bozizé was hiding the nature of the relationship between the two countries‚” he said.
Department of International Relations spokesman Clayson Monyela said the political and security situation in the CAR would be discussed .
Thirteen South African soldiers were killed and 27 wounded on March 23 when they were attacked by Seleka rebel fighters near the capital‚ Bangui.
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