The President also expressed similar sentiments during his speech commemorating the country’s 48th Independence Anniversary. President Bozize called on his fellow citizens to reconcile and rebuild their country. He promised to grant amnesty to rebel groups and provided they lay down their arms, reintegrate them in normal public life. Unfortunately this statement was given against a backdrop of continuing violence and instability in the country’s northwestern prefectures. The Sudanese President, Omer al-Bashir announced on 29 August that he had agreed to normalize bilateral relations with the Central African Republic. The comments followed President Bozize’s official two.
