BANGUI: Regional efforts to mediate a peaceful solution in the Central African Republic stalled on Saturday after fresh violence erupted in the chronically unstable country.
In the capital Bangui, the price of food soared, further spiking tensions and uncertainty in a nation where rebels have seized four main towns since launching their offensive in early December.
A day after announcing that the rebels and the government had agreed to hold unconditional peace talks and that more regional troops would head to the country, the regional bloc ECCAS said that no dates had been set for either measure.
"The foreign ministers will meet anew on January 3 and that is when they will announce a date for the meeting in Libreville," Placide Ibouanga, in charge of communication for the bloc, told AFP, referring to the talks between rebels and the government.
He said that the arrival of more regional troops was also uncertain.
"The arrival date of the new contingent depends on the heads of state," he said, referring to the troops that are due to reinforce the more than 500 soldiers from the FOMAC force already inside the country.
"The suggestion was made yesterday by the ministers, now it is up to the presidents to decide when the new elements will become available," he said.
The comments came a day after reports that government troops were trying to re-capture the town of Bambari from the rebels in what a military official called "extremely violent" fighting, with detonations and heavy weapons fire being heard by witnesses some 60 kilometres (35 miles) away.
A coalition of three rebel movements known as Seleka or the "alliance" in the Sango language has taken a string of towns since early December, including four regional capitals, among them the garrison town and key diamond mining hub of Birao.
The coalition says the government has not fulfilled the terms of peace pacts signed in 2007 and 2001, providing for disarmament and social reintegration for insurgents, including pay.
Central African President Francois Bozize took power in a 2003 coup and has twice been elected into office.
In the face of the rebel gains against a ill-equipped army, Bozize's appeals for help from former colonial power France and from the United States have fallen on deaf ears.
Neighbouring Chad, which has helped Bozize with rebellions in 2010, has sent a contingent to the country, however.
The French defence ministry said late Friday that 150 troops had arrived in Bangui from Libreville as a "precautionary measure" to protect French and European nationals.
Fears about the deteriorating security situation have seen Washington evacuate its embassy in Bangui and the United Nations pull out non-essential staff.
The International Committee of the Red Cross said Friday that it too had evacuated some workers, though it stressed it would continue to provide aid to the growing number of displaced people.
In the capital Bangui, residents feared a rebel advance on the city would make a deteriorating situation even worse.
"I'm afraid of the rebels coming," said vegetable vender Euphrasie Ngotanga in the city's huge Sambo market. "We're not going to sell our produce if there's no peace. And then how we will feed our children?"
"We don't eat properly any more. Cassava has become more expensive, everything costs more," said another vendor, Angele Bodero, with her baskets full of condiments before her, referring to the country's staple food.
A bag of cassava, the basic food of Central Africans, has risen nearly 50 percent from 13,000 CFA francs to 18,000 FCFA (19.80 to 27.40 euros).
"We need peace so we can work and get by," said Jean Guere, a old man with a wrinkled face trying to sell the flour sifters he makes himself.
UN has demanded rebels halt their assault, and urged Bozize's government to ensure the safety of civilians amid fears of a breakdown in law and order in one of the poorest countries on the planet.
While Seleka says it has no plans to move on the capital, a statement last week announcing it had suspended its advance was followed within a day by news of further rebel victories.
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