Peace Process Flounders As Rebel Groups Quit

A fragile peace deal in the Central African Republic is under strain after two groups quit the deal and another withdrew from a unity government, reports Agence France-Presse.

On Monday, the Democratic Front of the Central African People (FPDC) said it would withdraw from a peace agreement reached last month in protest of the new government that was announced on Sunday.

In a statement, the rebel group, which is strongest in the country's northwest, said the new government was not inclusive.

The Patriotic Movement for Central Africa (MPC), another large militia, said it considered the accord to be "void" for the same reason.

Separately, the Popular Front for the Renaissance of the Central African Republic (FPRC) said it would leave the government after the list of ministerial posts was unveiled.

The FPRC did not indicate whether it would continue to participate in the peace deal. It slammed the authorities for "bad faith, amateurism and incompetence."

The list of posts announced on Sunday kept important positions in the hands of government loyalists and excluded six rebel groups that were parties to the agreement. 

The rebel groups also demanded that a prime minister come from their ranks, but Firmin Ngrebada, the former Cabinet director for President Faustin-Archange Touadera, was named to the job.

Fourteen armed groups signed the Khartoum Agreement last month, which was intended to end years of conflict in the country.