Central African Republic President Francois Bozize sacked former ally Finance Minister Sylvain Ndoutingai, state radio reported on Saturday, two months after he was accused by the government of plotting a coup d'etat. Ndoutingai had been a key adviser of Bozize's since the rebellion that brought him to power in 2003, but has been under government surveillance since the end of April when he was accused of plotting to overthrow Bozize.
He was never arrested on the charge. A Presidential decree read over state radio said Ndoutingai, who had also held several other key ministerial positions since Bozize's rule started, was replaced by former Finance Minister Albert Besse. No reason for the change was given.
Land-locked Central African Republic is among the world's poorest and least developed countries, with much of its territory plagued by rebel groups and bandits. Bozize won a new term last year in elections that were dismissed as fraudulent by the country's opposition.