Fran�ois Boziz�
François Bozizé (b. October 14, 1946) is the current President of the Central African Republic (since 2003).
Kolingba's Rule and the Elections
During the military rule of André Kolingba, Bozizé actively supported the opposition, leading a coup attempt in 1983. The coup failed, however, and Bozizé suffered grotesque torture. Like Ange-Félix Patassé (the man whom he would later depose), Bozizé spent most of this time in exile in Togo.
Kolingba held elections in 1993, and Bozizé became a candidate. He lost to Patassé, who became president.
Supporting Patassé
For many years, Bozizé was considered a supporter of Patassé and helped him suppress army mutinies in 1996 and 1997. Bozizé was then named the Armed Forces Chief of Staff.
Bozizé showed no activity against Patassé and frequently crushed revolts against the president.
Against Patassé
However, in May 2001, Bozizé's loyalty was questioned in the aftermath of another failed coup against Patassé. It was defeated with the help of Libyan troops, but Bozizé refused to answer questions regarding his involvement, and in November he fled to Chad with 300 supporters.
From Chad, Bozizé frequently made raids into the Central African Republic throughout 2002. In October, he launched an attack on the capital, Bangui. With the help of Libya and the Movement for the Liberation of Congo (a rebel group from the Democratic Republic of the Congo), Patassé was able to stop the attack.
Patassé accused President Idriss Déby of Chad of helping the rebels, a charge which Déby denied.
The Final Coup
On March 15, 2003, Bozizé finally succeeded in seizing power. Patassé was at a meeting in Niger at the time and was unable to return: Bozizé and his troops had taken control of Bangui and its airport. Patassé took refuge in Cameroon and then Togo.
Bozizé has promised that his rule is merely part of a transition to future elections in which he will not stand. In early March 2004, he allowed the ousted Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide to stay in exile in the Central African Republic.
