François Bozizé

François Bozizé [ fʀɑswa bɔzize ] ( born October 14, 1946 in Mouila, Gabon ) was from 15 March 2003 until the coup of Michel Djotodia on March 24, 2013 President of the Central African Republic.

Life

Bozizé attended a military school in the province Bouar and in 1975 was appointed captain. In 1978, he was promoted by the former Emperor Jean- Bédel Bokassa to brigadier general. After Bokassa was dismissed in 1979 by David Dacko his office, Bozizé was raised to the defense minister. While the military government of André Kolingba ( 1981-1993 ) Bozizé worked as Communications Minister, but was planning a coup attempt blamed. After his arrest in Cotonou, Benin, in July 1989, he was imprisoned and tortured, 1991, but acquitted.

In the elections in 1993, which Bozizé candidate, he lost to Ange-Félix Patassé, who succeeded by Kolingba. Then he supported the new president for many years and helped him to quell 1996 and 1997 mutinies in the army. Bozizé was then appointed chief of staff of the armed forces.

In May 2001, however, Bozizé's loyalty was called into question after another abortive coup attempt against Patassé. The uprising was put down with the help of Libyan troops. Bozizé refused to answer questions about his involvement, and fled in November finally together with 300 supporters in Chad.

From there, led Bozizé during the 2002 regular attacks in the Central African Republic through. In October, he launched an attack on the capital, Bangui. With the help of Libya and the Movement for the Liberation of the Congo ( a rebellious faction of the Democratic Republic of Congo) Patassé but could fend off the attack.

On 15 March 2003 Bozizé finally able to seize power for themselves. Patassé was at the time at a meeting in Niger and unable to return: Bozizé and his troops had gained control of Bangui and the airport. Patassé fled first to Cameroon and then to Togo.

In March 2004, Bozizé attracted international attention when he allowed the deposed Haitian President Jean -Bertrand Aristide to use the Central African Republic as an exile. Aristide remained there only briefly.

Bozizé suspended the constitution in 1995 and was repealed on December 5, 2004 a new constitution that the old should be very similar, approved in a referendum. After he seized power, declared Bozizé, that he would not run for the planned presidential elections, but in view of the successful referendum, he announced his intention to let up yet.

End of December 2004 was Bozizé one of five candidates for the presidential election at the beginning of 2005 In January 2005, he explained that three other candidates who had been excluded at the beginning, but now could participate. ; The end of January it was announced that they would have been still more candidates, so that the total to 11. The former president Patassé was not among them. The elections were also postponed by one month of 13 February to 13 March.

After about two years it came in 2005 to legalize the reign Bozizé. On March 13, he achieved a significant lead over his rival candidate Martin Ziguélé first on the first ballot. On May 8, the second round of voting took place, in which it reached 64.6 % of the vote. On 11 June 2005 Bozizé was finally sworn in as president.

By the morning of March 24, 2013 SELEKA rebels occupied the presidential palace. Bozizé fled then, according to the statement of one of its consultants in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, however, met in Cameroon the next day.