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Central African Republic forms unity government
February 4, 2013, 3:45 pm

Central African Republic President Francois Bozize. [Getty Images]

Central African Republic President Francois Bozize. [Getty Images]

Following several days of tense negotiations, Central African Republic president Francois Bozize today announced a unity government with Dotodjia Am Nondroko, the leader of the Seleka rebels, as deputy prime minister and minister for national defence of the transitional government.

The announcement came three weeks after a ceasefire went into effect, ending nearly a month of intense fighting.

Forming a national unity government was one of the key demands of the Seleka Coalition of rebels, who signed a peace agreement with Bozize on January 11.

The rebels had agreed to allow Bozize to remain in power until 2016.

The members of the new government are comprised from five camps which signed the UN-sponsored Libreville peace agreement.

They include the presidential majority camp, the Seleka rebel coalition, the opposition, the non-armed political grouping and civil society.

Seleka members and the opposition appear to have swept the top ministerial posts.

Nicolas Tiangaye, the interim prime minister will retain his post and also hold the finance minister’s position.

Source: Agencies