Central African Republic - Bouar

«In Bangui, the Leader of the rebels, after coming to power, gave the people the “freedom” to help themselves. But now he has declared that the looting is over.
He has ordered that all the commercial and the administrative activities should be resumed. But the offices are still closed for fear or for lack of staff. All have fled …
He has declared that the Constitution is not in force anymore and he is ruling the Country by decrees.
Everywhere, in cities and villages, the scenario is the same: all the services have come to a standstill.
The most thorny aspect seems to be the military one. Bouar is a town 150 kms away from the border and so far it has not been involved in these events; most of the soldiers, from the eastern part of the Country, have come here. They have taken their uniform off, but not their arms. So far no major incidents have been recorded, but the panic is spreading among the population. A great number of soldiers, wearing plain clothes have taken to the streets and are trying to flee to Cameroon. A few days ago exchanges of shots took place close to the border. The Cameroon has closed the frontier to people carrying arms. Some military people have stolen cars belonging to NGO’s, to mission posts or to shopkeepers and they sold them in Cameroon.
Some incidents took place: some solders, after selling a car, stolen from an NGO, could not find an agreement among themselves while sharing out the proceeds of the sale; a quarrel broke out and one of them was killed. The body was brought to Bouar.
Last night some soldiers tried to enter into a religious convent; since the gate was locked, they went away only after firing a few shots.
Night time things get worse because these stragglers take to looting.
Now they are reaching the inner brousse: just now a schoolmaster from one of my villages has just told me that a group of disbanded soldiers has reached that village. People are afraid because they remembering the hardships suffered during the previous coup d’état.
A lorry loaded with seleka, coming from Bangui,  reached Bouar this morning. They were travelling very cautiously: they took 5 hours to cover 60 kms. At Baoro they entered the mission post of the Carmelites. They stole a jeep and a certain amount of money.  They gave the jeep back, but not the money. Once in Bouar, they reached the military camp, they laid the arms down and they went to the city centre reassuring the people, telling them not to be afraid because it was a pre-planned official inspection of the military camp.
In fact, they are asking the military personnel (disbanded and going around freely) to reach the camp, to identify themselves and be at the superiors’ orders.
Many remain suspicious and go into hiding.
Another group of seleka reached Bozum (180 kms from Bouar) and took over the police station. They went to the petrol station, they filled up with petrol and started selling petrol at a lower cost.
This is how things are here in Bouar.
Daytime there seem to be no risk at all. Night time is a different kettle of fish altogether: we feel a sense of insecurity because  the risk of raids is very high, mainly for mission posts, warehouses and car dealers».