Highlights

• Special Representative of UN Secretary General Francois Lonseny Fall calls for a continuation of the national political dialogue in CAR
• Fifteen killed and 28 wounded in a traffic accident in Balatete-Azene near Mbrès in the centre-north

Background and security

UN calls for a continuation of the political dialogue
In a press release published on 6 August, Special Representative of UN Secretary General (SRSG) Francois Lonseny Fall has called on Gabon’s president, Omar Bongo Ondimba, who also holds the presidency of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC), to help resolve the crisis that jeopardizes the inclusive political dialogue.

The SRSG also asked all parties to demonstrate their dedication to the restoration of the peace and the global peace agreement signed in Libreville on 21 June. According to Mr. Fall, the current political crisis could endanger peace and national reconciliation, complicating the inclusive political dialogue.

Three proposed laws by the National Assembly are at the root of the current political crisis in the Central African Republic. The first draft law relates to offences committed by elements of the Central African Armed Forces (FACA), while the second one relates to offences committed by armed groups involved in the military coup on 15 March 2003. The third draft law concerns politico-military groups, including the Union of Democratic Forces for the Unity (UFDR), the Democratic Front of the Central African people (FDPC) and the Popular Army for the Restoration of Democracy (APRD). This third draft law also states that people or rebel groups that refuse to be demobilized, conceal weapons, ammunition, vehicles, or equipment, and those who that do not abide by government orders are to be excluded from the amnesty.

The Union of the Nation’s Forces (UFVN), Jean Jacques Démafouth’s APRD, Abdoulaye Miskine’s FDPC and Lieutenant Florian Ndjadder’s Union of Republican Forces (UFR) expressed their disagreement with the proposed laws and decided to immediately suspend their participation in the political dialogue process.

Francois Lonseny Fall reiterated his determination to pursue efforts with other international facilitators for the restoration of peace in the Central African Republic and the organization of an inclusive political dialogue.

Current events

A fatal traffic accident near Mbrès
A truck carrying people and goods turned over on 30 July while on its way to Balatete-Azene near Mbrès in central northern CAR. Fifteen people died and 28 were wounded.

The most seriously injured were evacuated to Bangui and Kaga-Bandoro, where they were treated with trauma kits from the World Health Organization (WHO). Those with less severe injuries received first aid at the health centre in Mbrès supported by the NGO Aide Médicale Internationale. The WHO is monitoring the situation.

Means of transport and road infrastructure in CAR do not meet international standards and are the cause of numerous road accidents that often cause casualties.

For more information: Dr Roger Kuotong, WHO, kuotong2001@yahoo.fr

Food security in CAR
Between January and April 2008, food prices in CAR increased by an average of 25%. The price for cassava, a staple food in CAR, increased by a staggering 50%. These increases have put tremendous pressure on the people of CAR, particularly those living on less than $1 per day (67% of the population).

In response to these issues, the Central African government has put in place a task force led by the Minister for Rural Development. So far, the task force has enacted a temporary freeze in fuel prices – which contribute to high food prices – and a new agricultural programme to increase local seed and food production.

Members of the food security cluster are also taking action, by distributing seeds and tools, supporting the production of quality seeds, helping people to diversify their sources of income, and by better monitoring the situation.

WFP exploratory mission to Sam-Ouandja
During a mission to Sam-Ouandja on 13 June, the town’s inhabitants told Sitta Kai-Kai, Representative of the World Food Programme (WFP) in CAR, about the diminishing quality of their diet related to the shortage of products in the market.

From 20 to 23 June, the WFP team assessed the situation, trying to identify the nature and the causes of the crisis, the category of people affected, the type of assistance required and the options for partners to provide assistance.

An upsurge in insecurity and high taxes imposed on trucks on the roads and at the entrance of the city have made it difficult to supply the town with sufficient food and basic necessities. Moreover, the agricultural production in Sam Ouandja is low. As diamond trade is the most important sector of the local economy, agricultural activities have never been a priority. Consequently, food stocks are short leading to high prices and more cases of malnutrition being registered at the local health centre supported by the International Medical Corps (IMC).

The WFP mission has identified the type of assistance that should be made to the population. For example, many children under five years are in need of nutritional assistance for a period of 3 months. School-aged children will be able to get food through school canteens at the start of the new school year.

Additionally, people told the WFP mission that their other priorities are:

• restoring security
• training on technical agriculture
• provision of agricultural inputs
• rehabilitation of road infrastructure
• access to micro credit.

For more information: Armelle Siopathis, WFP,
armelle.siopathis@wfp.org

Contact us: UN OCHA Bangui, CAR
Nancy Snauwaert | snauwaert@un.org | +236 75 54 22 78
Gisèle Willybiro | willybiro@un.org | +236 75 54 90 31