HDPT Central African Republic

5 - 12 May 2008 - Highlights:

• Peace deal between Central African Government and APRD
• CAR eligible for the UN Peace-Building Fund
• Reconstruction of homes for the displaced in Nana-Grébizi
• Review of the humanitarian strategy in Bangui on 9 May

Background and security

APRD peace agreement

The Popular Army for the Restoration of the Republic and Democracy (APRD) on 9 May concluded a peace deal with the Central African Government in Libreville. Jean-Jacques Démafouth, President of the APRD, signed for the movement, while Cyriaque Gonda, Minister of Communication, Civic Affairs, Dialogue and National Reconciliation, signed on behalf of the Government. Continue Reading »

On Friday April 9th, the Central African Republic Government and the Popular Army for Unity and Democracy (APRD) signed a much awaited cease fire and peace agreement in Libreville, Gabon. In presence of Gabon’s President Bongo Ondimba, and the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations, François Lonseny Fall, both parties agreeded to an immediate cessation of hostilities.

Jean-Jacques Demafouth, recently appointed political head of the APRD, declared that the Government had committed to granting a general amnesty and “an end to all legal prosecutions currently in progress” against APRD rebels. Instead, they will stay in camps “pending their disarmament, demobilisation or integration into the army.” The fate of exiled former President Ange-Felix Patassé himself remains unclear. Regarded as the driving force behind the APRD by the Government of the Central African Republic, he was sentenced in 2006 to 20 years’ hard labour for his part in the rebel movement. Continue Reading »

In the fifth part of our interview series, Dr Ione recalls the turmoils faced by the population of Ngaoundaye, surrounded by belligerent parties. She explains how people were trapped between the rebels and the government forces, how the attacks have changed the life in the villages and how precarious the situation remains. During her recent conversations with young rebels, she encouraged them to open negotiations with the government and to put down their weapons. According to Dr Ione, the government’s initiative to have an inclusive political dialogue in the coming months might bring results in a near future but the failure of similar attempts in the past and the remaining presence of numerous weapons in the country serve to temper expectations.

In the previous episodes, Dr Ione described her engagement in CAR and her life though rebellions and mutinies. In the region of Ngaounday at the border with Chad and Cameroon, she shared the hope of the population and assisted their initiatives to improve their living conditions. She witnessed the quick and promising establishment of community social services and the destruction of twenty five years of hard work by the successive rebellions. She recalled the attacks on Ngoundaye, and how she shared the fears of the inhabitants and had to hide with them in the bush in order to protect he life and her hospital.

Dr Ione is now working for ASSOMESCA (association des oeuvres médicales pour la santé en Centrafrique), driven by the same enthusiasm that brought her to CAR 34 years ago.

Living convictions: Dr Ione describes her incredible experiences in the Central African Republic. A thrilling eye-witness account of the country’s history.

BONUCA, UNHCR and UNICEF train civilian and military authorities on the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, Human Rights and Child Protection in Armed Conflict

Since 2005, the civilian population in northern CAR has been subjected to widespread human rights violations perpetrated by rebel groups, armed and security forces, and armed bandits (coupeurs de route). Attacks by coupeurs de route have recently increased and become more violent. The Central African Government lacks the capacity to effectively assert control over large parts of its territory and thus is unable to ensure the security and protection of civilians. This situation has caused massive population displacements. Continue Reading »

The Bonuca (United Nations Office in the Central African Republic) releases its monthly info bulletin:

• Towards the Inclusive Political Dialogue
• Eufor / European Commition press conference
• One month training for border and air police forces
• Who does what at Bonuca

Click here to download the bulletin (in French - PDF; 539 KB)

28 April - 5 May 2008 - Highlights:

• Epidemic alert for polio, yellow fever and hepatitis E
• Field training of security services on human rights
• Help for survivors of sexual violence by OCODEFAD

Background and security

Epidemic alert

The Ministry of Public Health reported an outbreak on the Central African territory since early April of three infectious diseases under surveillance.

A case of wild polio was confirmed in a four year old child in Bangui on 17 April. Two elderly men living in the same village near Bozoum in the west of the country were diagnosed with yellow fever. A dozen of hepatitis E cases were confirmed in the first half of the month: eight cases in Ombella-Mpoko, the province surrounding the capital, and five cases in Basse Kotto in the South East. Continue Reading »

On 25 April, the Preparatory Committee for the Inclusive Political Dialogue (PCIPD) handed out its conclusions to President François Bozizé, initiating the 45 day period to organize the actual dialogue.

On this occasion, François Lonseny Fall, the UN Special Representative to the General Secretary, congratulated President Bozizé for the political will he demonstrated during the preparation phase and for his constant support to the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (CHD) who worked with the PCIPD. Mr Fall also reiterated the “UN determination to pursue its efforts in this important step in the life of the Central African nation”, which he hopes, “will encourage the rise of a lasting peace, necessary for a sustainable and appropriate development in the country.” Continue Reading »

21 - 28 April 2008 - Highlights:

• Presentation of Inclusive Political Dialogue Preparatory Committee’s report
• The People’s Army for the Restoration of Democracy resumed attacks in the north-west

Background and security

Preparatory Committee for the Inclusive Dialogue

On 25 April, the Preparatory Committee for the Inclusive Dialogue for Peace (CIDP) presented a report on its work to the President, François Bozizé, during a ceremony at the National Assembly in Bangui. Representatives of the diplomatic corps and international organizations were also present at this event. Continue Reading »

Often ignored, sometimes treated with discretion, sexual violence remains a sensitive issue in the Central African Republic. Although thousands of women have been victims of physical, psychological, and social trauma, their suffering remains largely silent.

Some women were raped by soldiers from neighbouring armies; others were attacked by rebels or national soldiers in conflict areas. Many are everyday victims of a society disrupted by years of conflict. Adding to their personal and physical burdens, CAR’s victims of sexual violence are often denied justice and face rejection from their community. Continue Reading »

By Gina Bramucci, IRC: After nearly two years of displacement, conflict-affected communities in Central African Republic are rebuilding and returning to their villages of origin. An International Rescue Committee (IRC) team in the northern region of Nana Gribizi has been implementing emergency response, environmental health, health, protection, Gender Based Violence (GBV) and education programming since February 2007.

As Internal Displaced People (IDP) started moving back toward their villages in early 2008, IRC’s protection team worked with returnees to identify extremely individuals in need of support. Communities came together to help elderly people isolated from their families, children without guardians, people living with illness or disability, and women raising their families alone. Continue Reading »

The Food and Agricultural Organization publishes its second quarterly bulletin on its activities in the Central African Republic:

• Encouraging results for the 2007/08 market gardening counter season
• Information on the 2008 agricultural season
• Testimonies from beneficiaries of FAO programmes
• FAO representant meets ministry representatives and CEMAC commission President

Click here to download the bulletin (PDF; 299 KB)

At the end of April, the United Nations opened its new base in Ndélé, the capital of the Bamingui-Bangoran prefecture in northern CAR. The base, which has been constructed by the Swedish Rescue Services Agency (SRSA) with funding from the Swedish government, will provide office space and accommodation for 6 people and will be open to all humanitarian and development organisations working in the area.

The large Bamingui-Bangoran prefecture borders Chad and the CAR’s northeastern Vakaga region. In 2006, Ndélé momentarily gained international notoriety when the town was occupied by the UFDR rebel group during its bid to overthrow President Bozizé in Bangui. Continue Reading »

14 - 21 April 2008 - Highlights:

• CAR government held a four day security sector reform seminar
• A delegation of the preparatory committee for the inclusive dialogue for peace in the CAR is visiting several African capitals
• Torben Brylle, Special Representative of the European Union for Sudan and the EUFOR mission in Chad and CAR visits Bangui

Current events

CAR completes crucial first step in SSR

The CAR government held a four-day security sector reform (SSR) seminar last week, working from Monday to Thursday to give a thorough accounting of CAR’s security and justice services, as well as to establish short- and medium-term strategies for reform. SSR is one of the key steps identified in CAR’s recent poverty reduction strategy and could have major implications for the humanitarian situation in the country. Continue Reading »

UNDP-CAR launched its first annual report today, providing an accessible, thorough overview of the office’s activities in 2007. The aim of the report is to improve UNDP visibility and transparency at the country office level and to engage donors, partners and the interested public in UNDP’s work in CAR. Continue Reading »

In Birao, in northeastern CAR, women and children have been particularly affected by what they nervously call “the events”, the fights between the rebel forces of the Movement of Democratic Forces for Unity (UFDR) and the government forces.
In their own words, the women of Birao talk about the attacks on their villages, their escape, their pain and their memories.

First woman

“During the battle, I was giving birth. I took my daughter on my back and walked until Am Dafock… I reached Am Dafock at night. In the morning I had given birth… a baby boy. My husband went the other way. Me, I took the children of my dead brother. Three boys. Their mother went back to her parent’s.” Continue Reading »