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 »
Like about 197,000 other Central Africans, the inhabitants of Combattant 1 in Paoua are internally displaced people. To escape violence in 2003, they left the city for the bush. For five years now, they have been living in Ota and Dinga, about 10 kilometres from Paoua.
They stay in small houses by their fields and no longer go to the market to sell their products. “We only go back to Paoua once or twice a week, mostly to go to church,” explains the oldest member of the group (see picture). We would like to come back permanently, but what will we do if the attacks start again? We can’t run away with our children.”
Despite the recent peace deal between the APRD rebel forces and the FACA government forces, the situation in northwestern CAR remains fragile, and the population won’t feel safe until a permanent political solution has been reached. For now, rebel soldiers still need to be demobilized, and national authorities still have to reinstate the rule of law. Zaraguinas (road bandits) are likewise very active in the northwest, attacking villagers and merchants on their way to their fields or to the market. Altogether, unsettled disagreements between rebels and government, and the acts of banditry perpetuated by Zaraguinas, are paralysing the recovery process in the region. Continue Reading »
On March 8th, in celebration of International Women’s Day, over 1,500 women gathered in the streets of Paoua. The city situated in the tormented north-western quarter of the Central African Republic had been shaken by fights between rebel and government forces and by population movements. But on this particular day of celebration, internally displaced women, along with women coming from many surrounding villages, paraded along the crowded city streets, carrying the slogan: “invest in girls and women”.
After the parade, Marie Noudjougoto from one of Paoua’s Farmers Organizations spoke in the name of all present women, when she said: “Show your faith in women by bringing us peace and security on the way to the market, to school, to the fields, to water sources, to health centres and to hospitals. Continue Reading »
Affected by years of relentless fighting in the North West, Central African farmers now face great difficulties to maintain their livelihood. Their seeds and tools have been destroyed by the repeated assaults of bandits, rebels and armed forces, turning the former bread basket of Central Africa into a disaster zone.
Three quarters of the Central African population work in the agricultural sector. Over the last ten years, a 90 percent drop of the cotton and coffee production has made a dramatic impact on the county’s economy.
The FAO in CAR is running emergency programs to support the neediest populations affected by the conflict in the North, and recovery programs to help rebuilding the country’s agricultural sector.
In Paoua and Bossangora, Central Africans working with the FAO talk about their achievements and their needs.
Click here to find out more about the FAO emergency programs in CAR.
Paoua, Central African Republic. Agnès Sadoua is just seven years old. Perched on the edge of a wooden bench, she swings her legs back and forth freely. Like many other children her age, she is missing her front teeth. She grins as she talks about her love for school, her friends and her family. It has not always been like this however. Three months ago, Agnès along with many other children and their families, were forced to flee their homes in search of safety in the bush. Continue Reading »
During their stay in the Central African Republic, Reuters journalists produced a fascinating 8 minute video feature on the APRD rebels in the Paoua area. Their footage includes APRD soldiers and child soldiers training and explaining their motives. Best video on the rebellion in north-eastern CAR so far.
We have started a new series of ‘focus maps’ optimized for A3 printing.
These maps show the entire country, put it in context and contain a ‘zoomed in’ area of concern to humanitarian and development organizations in the Central African Republic.
We will post a number of these maps over the coming days and start with Paoua.
Work has gotten more difficult lately though: material has become harder to find and transport, because of the rainy season. However, it is likely that the new office will be inaugaurated in early September this year. We had posted some weeks ago when the construction started.
The office will serve all UN agencies and NGOs working in north-western CAR. The VSAT internet connection will making communicating with the teams up there much easier.
Thanks to the support of the Swedish Rescue Services Agency (SRSA), construction of the new joint UN office in Paoua in the north-west of the Central African Republic finally began last week.
Establishing a permanent presence in the north of CAR has been a key element of the humanitarian aid programme.
Very soon humanitarian agencies will be able to work closer to the people most in need, who often live in deplorable conditions hundreds of kilometers away from the capital.
The new offices will provide work space for both UN and NGO staff, who strive to provide protection, basic education, health services and clean water to the people of CAR. Follow the work of the Paoua office project team on our Flickr page or in the photo story below.
The Humanitarian and Development Partnership Team (HDPT) unites all organizations working to alleviate the humanitarian and development crisis in the Central African Republic: United Nations agencies, the Red Cross Movement, NGOs and other organizations. For more information, visit About HDPT CAR or email us at info[at]hdptcar.net
Interviews with Dr Ione
Dr Ione describes her incredible experiences in the Central African Republic. A thrilling eye-witness account of the country’s history.
Like about 197,000 other Central Africans, the inhabitants of Combattant 1 in Paoua are internally displaced people. To escape violence in 2003, they left the city for the bush. For five years now, they have been living in Ota and Dinga, about 10 kilometres from Paoua. 
On March 8th, in celebration of International Women’s Day, over 1,500 women gathered in the streets of Paoua. The city situated in the tormented north-western quarter of the Central African Republic had been shaken by fights between rebel and government forces and by population movements. But on this particular day of celebration, internally displaced women, along with women coming from many surrounding villages, paraded along the crowded city streets, carrying the slogan: “invest in girls and women”.
The Food and Agricultural Organization publishes a new bulletin on its activities in the Central African Republic: 
Paoua, Central African Republic. Agnès Sadoua is just seven years old. Perched on the edge of a wooden bench, she swings her legs back and forth freely. Like many other children her age, she is missing her front teeth. She grins as she talks about her love for school, her friends and her family. It has not always been like this however. Three months ago, Agnès along with many other children and their families, were forced to flee their homes in search of safety in the bush. 
Construction of the new joint United Nations office in 
