One year after the signing of a peace deal in the Central African Republic听(CAR),听State authority听is being extended throughout听the country, violence against civilians has decreased,听and an听inclusive Government remains in place, the UN Security Council heard on Thursday.听
Ambassadors were briefed by听, UN Special Representative for the country, who presented the latest听of the Secretary-General focusing on progress and challenges since the authorities and 14 armed groups听signed the听Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation last February in the听capital, Bangui.听听听
It听was negotiated under the auspices of the African Union (AU), which听had听brought the sides together for 10 days of talks in Khartoum.听
鈥淧rogress has also been made in establishing听special joint security units,听as provided for by the peace agreement,鈥澨齭aid Mr.听Ndiaye,听before listing further achievements听including in听demobilization,听fighting听impunity and听promoting听transitional justice.听
Path to peace听鈥榝raught with pitfalls鈥�
The peace deal is the latest attempt to stem a crisis which began in 2012 after听fighting between听the mostly听Christian听anti-Balaka militia and a听mainly Muslim rebel coalition听known as听S茅l茅ka听killed thousands.听
But as Mr.听Ndiaye听told the Council, a peace agreement is not yet peace. 鈥淚t is a step forward, a long process, which is sometimes听fraught with pitfalls.鈥澨�
Although signatories have reaffirmed their commitment to the听agreement,听violations continue, including illegal tax collections and attempts to expand territorial influence.听
Despite improved overall security, pockets of instability remain, with clashes between armed groups in the north-east听threatening civilians and humanitarian workers.听
Mr.听Ndiaye听informed the Council听of mediation efforts currently underway by听the UN听integrated听mission听in the country,听,听following attempts by听one group,听known as the 鈥楻ebirth鈥� or听the FPRC, to invade the village of听Birao, capital of听Vakaga听province.听
The FPRC had also issued a call for violence against the听UN听mission听in听Ndele,听another northeastern town,听rallying local people to invade its camp.听
鈥淭his is particularly unacceptable because it is using women and children as human shields听to besiege the MINUSCA camp and to obstruct its operations,鈥� he said.听听
AU Special Representative听Matias听Bertino听Matondo听was also听concerned about听the security situation.听
鈥淭he majority of听the armed groups have not yet laid down their arms and continue to exploit natural resources to the detriment of the state,鈥� he said, speaking via videoconference from听Khartoum.听
Elections mark important听turning point听
The听peace deal听anniversary aside,听Mr.听Ndiaye听said听2020听represents 鈥渁n听important turning point鈥� as the听CAR听will hold听presidential and legislative听elections听starting听in December.听
The return from exile of former Presidents听Fran莽ois听Boziz茅听and听Michel听Djotodia听has been among the 鈥渘ew political dynamics鈥� emerging in the run-up.听
鈥淏oth of them鈥ant to contribute, and this is something we can welcome,鈥� said Mr. Ndiaye, who also commended the 鈥渟pirit of openness鈥� expressed by current President听Faustin-Archange听Touad茅ra.听
The UN Development听Programme听() estimates the election will cost nearly $42 million,听according to Ambassador Omar听Hilale听from the UN Peacebuilding Commission.听
Reiterating听a听point made by Mr.听Ndiaye, he said听the process听must be inclusive,听with women, youth, displaced people and refugees taking part.听
Ambassador Olaf Skoog,听European Union representative, underlined听support听to the CAR. The听regional听bloc听will foot nearly听half the cost of the听vote听and听also听plans to deploy electoral experts.听
鈥淓lections are essential to consolidate democracy and democratic institutions in the CAR,鈥澨齢e said. 鈥淧ostponement is not an option. They must take place.鈥澨�
