Representatives of 11 European governments and the United States announced on September 15 to forgive USD 55.6 million of a total of USD 59.3 million owed by the Central African Republic to these countries from loans given since 1983. The cancelation marks an important step towards improving the CAR government’s standing among creditor countries and investors, and follows shortly after it reached its completion point under the ‘enhanced initiative for Heavily Indebted Poor Countries’ (HIPC) in June 2009. Continue Reading »
Posted in APRD, Central African Republic, development, government, info bulletin, rebels, roads, security, sitrep, violence on Aug 18th, 2008 No Comments »
Highlights
- Clashes in the north west of CAR
- New MINURCAT Police Chief
- World Bank provides US$ 7 million for Food Response Project
- UN Humanitarian Air Service in jeopardy
Background and security
Clashes in the north west of CAR
After suspending their participation in the Inclusive Political Dialogue, several clashes between the Popular army for the restoration of democracy (APRD) and government forces have been reported in the north west of the country. Fighting reportedly took place on 8 August near Ngaoundaye, on 12 August near Man, and on 13 and 14 August between Ouandago and Kabo, though the identity of the rebels in this last skirmish was not confirmed.
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Posted in BONUCA, Bouar, Central African Republic, bandits, disarmament, government, health, hiv, rebels, security, sitrep on Aug 5th, 2008 No Comments »
Highlights
- The Popular Army for the Restoration of Democracy (APRD) suspends its participation in the process leading up to the political dialogue.
- A barge crossing the Oubangui river in CAR, sank, killing 42.
Background and security
The APRD pulls out of the political dialogue
The President of the Popular Army for the Restoration of Democracy (APRD), Jean-Jacques Démafouth said in a press release that his organisation had suspended its participation in the process leading up to the political dialogue. Mr. Démafouth has also stated that the APRD had withdrown from a ceasefire and a global peace agreement signed on 9 May and 21 June 2008. The APRD made that resolution because they disapprove parts of a proposed general amnesty law.
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Highlights
- General Abdoulaye Miskine, leader of the Union of Democratic Forces of Central Africa (UFDC) says he is ready to sign the Global Peace Agreement
- China donates agricultural equipment and office supplies worth $450,000
Background and security
Miskine ready to sign the peace agreement
General Abdoulaye Miskine, leader of the Union of Democratic Forces of Central Africa (FDPC), one of the three rebel groups based in the centre north of the country, has said he is ready to sign the Global Peace Agreement. His commitment is a prelude to the much anticipated political dialogue expected this month in Bangui. “I am ready to sign the Global Peace Agreement in order to give the political inclusive dialogue a chance — considered by all the only way out of crisis,” said General Miskine in a press release issued Saturday in Bangui. Continue Reading »
Prime Minister makes emergency appeal
Bangui, Central African Republic – Faustin Touadera, Prime Minister of the Central African Republic, issued an emergency appeal for international support in the wake of a catastrophic failure of the country’s power system. After nearly 60 years of service and erratic maintenance at best, and despite offers from key donors to help over the course of the past few months, CAR’s weak electric infrastructure has taken one more step towards complete collapse. Rolling blackouts, often lasting more than 24 hours, have now plunged the capital into nearly complete darkness. Continue Reading »
(IRIN) - The signing on 9 May of a ceasefire between the government of Central African Republic and the only rebel group that had yet to join a national peace process has drawn mixed reactions from within the country.
The truce with the Armée populaire pour la restauration de la république et la démocratie (APRD), based in northwestern CAR, was signed in the Gabonese capital, Libreville, after a month of discussions with the Bangui government.
As well as a cessation of hostilities, the APRD has undertaken to restrict its fighters to their bases. The accord also paves the way for an amnesty, subject to a bill to be put before the national assembly. 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 »
16 April 2008
The third day of CAR’s SSR seminar came to a close this evening after having presented reform proposals for the country’s security and justice sectors. Based on earlier discussions of the current state and needs of individual sectors, working groups offered reform proposals with implementation timelines of up to 24 months. Continue Reading »
Important achievements have been made in the inclusive political dialogue initiated at the end of 2007 to put an end to the recurrent violence in the Central African Republic. Over the last three months, the dialogue’s Preparatory Committee (CPDPI) has managed to bring together all major political and military actors as well as reach consensus on the need to find a political solution to the country’s divisions.
All rebel movements, including the Popular Army for Democratic Restoration (APRD), which only joined the CPDPI last month, have committed to sit with the government, opposition parties and civil society in order to open a constructive dialogue. The committee’s final document will set general conditions for the dialogue and will be officially delivered to President François Bozizé in the coming days. This hand-over will mark the end of the preparatory stage and the beginning of the actual dialogue. Continue Reading »
President François Bozizé today named Faustin Touadéra as the new Prime Minister of the Central African Republic. The current rector of the University of Bangui thus succeeds Elie Doté, who resigned with his government on January 18th amid an escalating wage crisis. The swift transition to a successor government is expected to calm acts of protest planned for Wednesday and Thursday this week.
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Prime Minister Elie Doté of the Central African Republic resigned, together with his government, on Friday 18 January 2008, following two weeks of strikes by unions and government workers over salary arrears. Doté’s move came one day before the parliament was expected to vote on a motion of no-confidence against him.
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