SA soldiers carved us up, say rebels

Wounded rebels spoke for the first time yesterday of massive casualties suffered at the hands of crack South African troops as more evidence emerged of plans to end this country's ill-fated mission in the Central African Republic.

“We fought very hard for one and a half days. They had very good weapons and very good fighters,” said corporal Mohamed Tahir of a battle in the capital Bangui that he took part in, which left 13 South African soldiers and apparently hundreds of rebels dead or wounded.

Several of those interviewed bore battle scars, including bandaged heads, feet and limbs. The rebels said the SA troops made it “very, very difficult” for them to take the town and sweep president Francoir Bozize from power. The fight put up by the SA troops was so ferocious he believed they were facing over 400 men – almost double the actual number.

“They had every kind of weapon that they were fighting against us with – heavy weapons,” said Tahir.  “It was a very difficult battle. We lost more than half of the the men only in my unit of 500 men.”

Captain Amin Nodjokama described it as “big, big battle – it was very hot! It took a long time and the fighting was very heavy with a lot of dead and wounded on both sides”.

The Times yesterday found more evidence of rebel troops flaunting their victory over South Africa in the streets of Bangui. In a marketplace near Bangui airport thronging with vendors and shoppers, including one wearing a South African Defence Force hat, rebel soldiers guarded a Gecko SA military transport vehicle strewn with empty shell casings. Another Gecko stood on the pavement in the city centre. Rebels said they were captured during during the battle with South Africa, and had also seized SANDF equipment and uniforms. Several said despite their heavy losses they were ready to fight South African troops again.

“But we are not enemies of the people in South Africa. We have no problem with them. Our enemies were the people who came to fight against us,” said Colonel Christian Narkoyd  However,Several military sources in Bangui told The Times they did not believe reports of SA troops massing in Uganda and the DRC were credible. “There is no threat from outside, either from Bozize or South Africa,” said a senior military official speaking on condition of anonymity. “The only threat we face now is the Seleka rebels themselves. Their leaders are not able to control them.” 

The official said the South African mission had been scaled down dramatically in the last few days. “The only mission that remains now is to collect the South African ammunition still left behind at their base,” he said. “It is strewn over a large area and will take about three hours to collect.”

Another source said there were only 15 South African soldiers left under protection of French and Fomac forces at the Camp de M’Poko military base at Bangui airport, and this would be reduced to a handful of liason officers in a few days.

This appears to be confirmed by a French soldier guarding Bangui airport, who told The Times yesterday he had seen three South African Hercules cargo planes land and take off on Monday, and one yesterday.

As people in Bangui returned to work yesterday, rebel soliders can be seen loitering on the steps of the palace in central Bangui where Bozize ruled over the CAR with an iron fist for a decade. Several black luxury Mercedes benzes, some dented and with windows smashed, are still parked in front. 

Inside documents and files lie strewn on the floor and over desks of ransacked offices belonging to senior cabinet officials, some marked “confidential”. They included a details of a Swiss bank account, reports to Bozize military commanders of rebel troop movements, and recommendations for military promotions. “Don’t go too far into that one,” said colonel Abdel Trezeguet. “You may step on an explosive.” In another office stood a metre high statue of a medival knight surrounded by debris.

Seleka rebels have also set up impropmtu recruitment centres throughout the city, urging unemployed youths, including women, to enlist for a monthly salary of 54 000 Central African francs (about R1 000).

 “We want to be soldiers to defend our country,” said 23-year-old Anna Josiane. “I’m not afraid of shooting and I’m not afraid of being killed!”

Others were more interested in earning a steady income in a country with few job prospects for its population of five million, most of whom live in abject poverty.

“We are jobless. To be a soldier to protect our country will be our job,” said 17-year-old  Basangi Bienvenu. “If there is peace, we won’t have to fight,” he adds hopefully.