Potential Hot Spots: August 7, 2002

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On August 6 the Chad government said 20 suspected mercenaries and two Chadian soldiers were killed when they attacked a Chadian garrison in the town of Sido. The CAR government, however, countered the Chadian claim and said Chadian troops had attacked CAR forces (the FACA, Central African Republic Army). The CAR report said the attack occurred at Moyenne-Sido, on the CAR side of the border, though some Chadian forces penetrated 15 kilometers inside the CAR. On August 7 wire services reported that CAR troops once again fought with Chadian forces. No details on casualties, however, were provided, though one report said that 20 Chadian soldiers (not mercenaries) had died in the firefight on August 6. Relations between the CAR and Chad are bad for several reasons. The Chadians believe the CAR supporters a group of pastoralists (cattle raisers, in this case) who are loyal to a dissident Chadian warlord. A big reason (from the Cars perspective) is former CAR army chief of staff and coup leader Francois Bozize. Bozize fled to Chad last November after a failed coup attempt.


 

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