14 April 2008
The Central African Republic launched its historic four-day seminar on security sector reform today in the Bangui Sports Complex conference rooms. President François Bozizé officially opened the seminar, accompanied by National SSR Committee President General Antoine Gambi, Prime Minister Faustin Touadéra and UNDP Resident Representative Toby Lanzer. Presentations were delivered by members of the National SSR Preparatory Committee and by national experts, focusing chiefly on the current state of the following sub-sectors:

• National Army (FACA) and the Gendarmerie
  7300 men currently make up the national armed forces, including 5300 FACA soldiers, 1800 gendarmes and 200 administrators. Forces are ill-equipped and politicized. Proposed solutions to long-standing problems included regional recruitment to decrease partisanship, rehabilitation of training centres to improve discipline and a shift to garrisoned forces (from expeditionary) to combat social stress on military families.
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• National Police
  The national police force is under the supervision of the Ministry of the Interior and, as of 1981, counted 3500 officers, today strongly tilted towards high-ranking officials. Police stations were heavily looted during the 1996-2003 period and remain in poor condition with many outstanding equipment needs. Many prisons do not comply with standards. Discipline and morale both require attention.
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• Municipal Police
  Staffed by 66 police officers and 42 assistants, the municipal police force essentially has no resources or equipment. The force further suffers from a lack of clear legal framework and from disrespect from certain institutions.
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• Customs Enforcement
  396 customs agents are currently active in CAR. Three-quarters of customs infrastructure is in terrible condition, and only in Bangui is customs information computerized. This is complicated by the vast borders of the country, and internal discipline is recognized to be lacking.
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• Rangers
  Charged with enforcement of environmental and hunting laws (in and out of national parks), park rangers are too few to cover their mandate and lack proper training. Corruption and material deficits are also problems.
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• Justice and Penitentiary Systems
  The main objective is to create a justice system that is both understood by and responsive to all citizens. Justice in CAR does not currently fulfill this ideal. Penitentiary systems should be firmly under civilian control, in line with international standards and should favour social rehabilitation.
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• Intelligence Services
  Intelligence in CAR comes from a variety of sources, with different offices responsible for different aspects on intelligence collection, analysis and diffusion.
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• DDR Situation
  Between 2002 and 2003, over 1100 arms, 134,000 magazines and 1,360 grenades – among other weapons – were collected. A UNDP-led DDR project also helped to demobilize over 7,500 ex-combattants. These processeses will be strengthened by the inclusive political dialogue and on-going SSR efforts
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