CENTRAL African Republic troops killed 44 rebel fighters participating in a push to encircle the capital Bangui and overturn newly re-elected President Faustin Archange Touadera, the government has said.
Together with “allied forces”, the CAR army launched an offensive in the village of Boyali, approximately 90km (56 miles) from the capital, with no casualties on the government side and “44 dead including several mercenaries from Chad, Sudan and the Fulani” ethnic group, the government posted on Facebook on Monday.
When the government says “allies”, it is usually referring to Rwandan troops and Russian paramilitaries which have been sent to the conflict-plagued country to reinforce federal troops.
“Government forces are back on the offensive,” government spokesman Ange-Maxime Kazagui told the AFP news agency.
He added that troops had captured the village of Boda, 124km from Bangui, with support from Russian fighters.
Rebels controlling about two-thirds of the country launched an offensive
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