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Aristide 'has his advantages'
04/03/2004 14:31 - (SA)
Liesl Louw
Johannesburg - Former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide has found refuge in the Central African Republic (CAR), one of Africa's poorest countries and one with a protracted history of instability and coups d'état.
Economic development in the CAR with its 3,6 million residents is hampered by the country's inaccessibility, shaky infrastructure and "years of economic mismanagement" says a World Bank report.
The former French colony is largely overlooked by the international media - to the extent that when power was seized from former president Ange Felix Patassé last year, the event passed almost undetected. (Patassé currently lives in exile in Togo).
In fact, the last time the CAR received a wave of media attention was in 1977 when President Jean-Bedel Bokassa proclaimed himself emperor, says Parfait M'baye, the country's government spokesperson.
"It does have its advantages," M'baye said in Bangui after complaining that Aristide poses an embarrassment to his country for his overt criticism of the US.
Hospitality and aid
Bangui media also believe being in the limelight could have advantages for the CAR. "Media exposure over the forced resignation of the former dictator has given us the opportunity to be recognised as a country of hospitality and aid," a report in the newspaper Le Confident said.
Bokassa, who ruled with French support from 1965 to 1979, dragged his country's image through the mud. He was famous for his extravagant lifestyle and corruption and was later convicted for cannibalism.
France was severely criticised for allegedly contributing R140m towards Bokassa's controversial coronation in 1977. A total of 700 soldiers assisted in ousting Bokassa in 1979. Following a series of coups d'état and political instability, Patassé took over power in 1993 following the CAR's first democratic election.
Last year's coup against Patassé was executed by general Francois Bozize in collaboration with neighbouring Chad.
The weekly Jeune Afrique l'Intelligent, warns of serious instability in the CAR, although Bozize clearly has support from some regional leaders including Gabon's President Omar Bongo.
Not thrown in the towel
Meanwhile Patassé has reportedly been in contact with ousted President Pascal Lissouba of bordering Republic of Congo who is living in exile in London.
"Patassé has not yet thrown in the towel," the newspaper reports.
Aristide is living in a country where its host, Bozize, might not be sitting in the presidential chair for all that long.
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