The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), at its 612th meeting held on 26 July 2016, received a briefing from the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the Commission and Head of the AU Mission for the Central African Republic (CAR) and Central Africa (MISAC), Mr. Mohammed Hacen Lebatt. Council also listened to statements made by the representatives of the CAR; Gabon, in its capacity as the Chair of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS); the Republic of Congo, on behalf of the ECCAS Mediation in the CAR; Egypt and Senegal as African members of the United Nations (UN) Security Council; the ECCAS Secretariat; and the UN.
Council recalled its previous pronouncements on the CAR, in particular Communiqué PSC/PR/COMM.(DLXXXVI) adopted at its 586th meeting held on 31 March 2016.
Council welcomed the positive developments in the CAR following the establishment of the new Government in March 2016. In this regard, Council encouraged the Government and other CAR stakeholders to continue and intensify their efforts towards an all-inclusive national reconciliation process, which is necessary for the restoration of sustainable peace, social cohesion and stability. Council emphasized the need for the CAR authorities to build and consolidate on the outcomes of the Bangui National Reconciliation Forum and the progress made following the successful conclusion of the transition process. Council further underlined the importance of the CAR authorities to deploy measures to revive the economy in order to create an enabling environment for the reconstruction and recovery of the country.
Council expressed deep concern over the presence of armed groups affiliated to the anti-Balaka and ex-Seleka movements and the persistent insecurity in different parts of the CAR, including in the south east, as a result of atrocities committed by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) . In this regard, Council underlined the role of AU-led Regional Task Force (RTF) of the Regional Cooperation Initiative for the elimination of the LRA (RCI-LRA) and called on AU Member States and partners to extend required support to the RTF. Council also appealed for an enhanced humanitarian support to the affected population in the CAR.
Council welcomed the steps being taken by President Faustin-Archange Touadera to reach out to the armed groups as part of the efforts to ensure a successful Disarmament, Demobilization, Reintegration and Repatriation (DDRR) process, fully restore state authority across the CAR territory and promote national reconciliation. Council encouraged the CAR authorities to pursue their efforts and demanded that the armed groups engage in good faith in this process. Council reiterated the importance of an effective DDRR process, as well as Security Sector Reform (SSR), bearing in mind the imperative of the principle of inclusivity by establishing the required defense and security institutions that are diverse and national in character.
Council commended ECCAS, the countries of the region and the international partners for their continued support to the CAR. Council strongly condemned attacks against peacekeepers in the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the CAR (MINUSCA).They commended the UN for its efforts and looked forward to continued and enhanced support by MINUSCA.
Council urged member States, within the framework of the African Solidarity Initiative (ASI), to make contributions in support to post-conflict reconstruction and development in the CAR. In this respect, Council welcomed the initiative taken by the Commission to conduct a PCRD needs assessment mission to the CAR in August 2016, and looked forward to receiving the report of the mission in October 2016.
Council underlined the critical importance of the Donors and Investors Conference scheduled to take place in Brussels on 17 November 2016. Council appealed to all the CAR partners to seize the opportunity of the Conference to generously contribute to post-conflict reconstruction and development in the CAR. In this regard, Council welcomed the steps being taken by the Commission to convene, jointly with the UN, a workshop of the CAR multilateral partners on post-conflict reconstruction, to further coordinate international efforts in support of the CAR.
Council looked forward to the forthcoming meeting of the International Contact Group on the CAR (ICG-CAR) scheduled to take place in Bangui, on 25 August 2016.
Council stressed the need for regular briefings on the evolution of the situation in the CAR.
Council agreed to remain actively seized of the situation in the CAR.