Inclusive dialogue. New impetus for the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation. Regional stability. Continued support for the Central African Republic (CAR).
These were some of the key issues highlighted at the end of the joint AU-ECCAS-UN-EU high-level visit to the Central African Republic from 2 to 5 June 2021. The international delegation called on all political actors to “ensure that the CAR does not return to war”.
Recurrent consultations
The joint mission – part of the quartet’s regular consultations with CAR authorities on the national peace and reconciliation process – was conducted by Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, African Union (AU) Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security; Mangaral Bante, Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security; Jean-Pierre Lacroix, United Nations (UN) Under Secretary-General for Peace Operations; Charles Fries, European Union (EU) Deputy Secretary-General for the Common Security and Defence Policy and Rita Laranjinha, EU External Action Service Africa Director.
In pursuit of an enduring political solution for a peaceful, stable CAR, the officials held talks with a host of national stakeholders, including Central African President Faustin Touadera, the speaker of parliament, ruling and opposition party leaders, prefects, religious leaders and civil society.
They exchanged views on the country’s fledging democratic process in the form of recent presidential and parliamentary elections, and on challenges related to governance as well as the importance of diplomacy for regional stability – the AU-ECCAS-UN-EU delegation urged restraint in the face of new tensions between CAR and neighbouring Chad in the aftermath of the recent, fatal border clashes between the two countries’ security forces.
“We leave comforted by the very clear and public expression of support by the president of the republic. He reiterated his wish that our organizations continue their work and that the actions of these organizations continue to be necessary and desirable for the benefit of the country and the Central African people,” said UN Under Secretary-General, Jean-Pierre Lacroix.
No sustainable peace without inclusive dialogue
The overriding message of the bi-lateral talks: inclusive national dialogue as a pre-requite to sustainable peace through the implementation of the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic. The delegation condemned the operations of the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC) – a union of rebel groups that continues to wage war in parts of the country – while stressing that any armed groups willing to renounce violence and lay down their arms would be welcomed to the negotiating table.
CAR’s international partners encouraged a candid national discourse that must also, crucially, confront and address the necessity of launching an overdue reform agenda to tackle the country’s colossal challenges: responding to humanitarian needs, ensuring the protection of civilians, rule of law and respect for fundamental freedoms, seeking justice and redress for victims of human rights violations, fighting impunity and corruption, and promoting economic development.
Silencing the guns in the CAR
The joint delegation voiced concerns about the increasingly vocal disinformation and hate campaign against their personnel in the CAR – a movement that is especially targeting MINUSCA – including recent serious incidents against humanitarian workers and peacekeepers in the field. In response, President Touadera acknowledged the international community’s important support: “We want to declare, with a strong and clear voice, that we need our partners [...] They have all greatly supported us in various respects, such as security & development.”
“As the international community, our agenda is to help silence the guns in the CAR. Our only agenda is to ensure that peace reigns in this country,” stated AU Commissioner, Ambassador Bankole, on behalf of the delegation.
He added: “We are reassured that the invitation extended to the international community in the Central African Republic is still valid. We are all convinced, and the president has reassured us, that our work is of added value to the peace, stability and progress of the CAR.”
During their mission, the senior officials from the joint AU-ECCAS-UN-EU mission were accompanied by Ambassador Samuela Isopi, Head of the EU Delegation in the CAR, Ambassador Matias Bertino Matondo, AU Special Representative and Head of the AU Office in the CAR, Ambassador Adolphe Nahayo, ECCAS Representative in the CAR, and Mankeur Ndiaye, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in the CAR and Head of MINUSCA.