Self-confident Africa is now looking for regional alliances to tackle its internal issues. In a significant recent development, following in the footsteps of Mali and Burkina Faso, Chad and the Central African Republic have joined hands to deal with the prevailing insurgency issues in the region. Both African nations have been at loggerheads due to the presence of armed rebel groups, but they have come together to ease tensions and make way for peaceful coexistence.
Chad – CAR join hands
According to a report, the transitional president of Chad, General Mahamat Deby, and the CAR leader Faustin Touadera have promised to work closely to tackle the security issues between their countries. The two leaders recently met for two hours behind closed doors in Luanda, where they were hosted by the Angolan president Joao Lourenco. Given that the relations between the two countries have remained tense, the recent announcement is a huge development and a welcome step taken by both two countries.
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For instance, due to the insurgency issue, relations between the two countries have remained fraught. Anti-Touadera rebel groups in CAR previously held about two-thirds of its territory, but they failed in their attempt to remove the CAR president. In 2013, former colonial power France sent troops to CAR but withdrew them from the country last year due to the growing Russian military presence. The Russians helped the country push out rebels from large towns.
Thus given that the fact that Chad has been a US puppet and CAR a Russian ally, it would be interesting to see how the two countries come together and work on this regional framework. Also does this indicate that the two countries are coming out of the shadow of the external players? However, only time will provide the answer.
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