- Title: Central African Republic signs peace deal with armed groups in Bangui
- Date: 7th February 2019
- Summary: BANGUI, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC (FEBRUARY 6, 2019) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC PRESIDENT, ARCHANGE TOUADERA SIGNING PEACE ACCORD MINISTERS AND MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT SEATED ARMEL SAYO, LEADER OF THE RJ EL SAYOU (REVOLUTION JUSTICE) ARMED GROUP SIGNING MINISTERS SITTING THREE LEADERS OF ARMED GROUPS SEATED ARMEL SAYO (RIGHT)
- Embargoed: 21st February 2019 12:12
- Keywords: Peace agreement Central African Republic conflict armed groups amnesty peace agreement signature ceremony
- Location: BANGUI, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
- City: BANGUI, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
- Country: Central African Republic
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001A0L1CUV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: PART AUDIO AS INCOMING
The President of the Central African Republic (CAR) Archange Touadera brought back a peace deal agreed with 14 armed groups to Bangui on Wednesday (February 06), after two weeks of talks in Sudan.
The peace deal was announced on Saturday (February 02) by the African Union, but the terms were not immediately released.
The government and rebels expressed optimism over the deal.
"This agreement has to be fair, balanced and lasting. This agreement has to be a reflection of a shared will, one that will offer current and future generations reasons to have aspirations and belief in their country," said Central African Republic president, Touadera.
"As you can see, we have just signed which means we will respect it and all the parties will respect it, we have committed to it," added Souleyman Daouda, spokesperson for the Union of the Central African People (UPC) led by Ali Ndarass.
Central African Republic has been rocked by violence since 2013 when mainly Muslim Selaka rebels ousted then-president Francois Bozize, prompting reprisals from mostly Christian militia.
A 12,000-strong U.N. peacekeeping mission, deployed since 2014, has struggled to restore order to the countryside where the government has little or no control and attacks on civilians are frequent.
Over a dozen peacekeepers were killed by rebels in 2017 alone.
Lasting peace is not guaranteed, however, because similar agreements in 2014, 2015 and 2017 all broke down.
Some of the sticking points during the talks were the rebels demand for the granting of amnesty for their leaders, their participation in a new inclusive government and joint patrols. The full details of the deal are yet to be disclosed.
Some residents in Bangui said they welcome the signing, but also stressed that justice must prevail.
"I hope this agreement holds and takes account of the wishes of the Central African people, namely that the agreements must be respected - the recommendations of the Forum of Bangui 2015 and that there will be no amnesty. You know that the Central African people have suffered too much and today, it would be unthinkable that we may pardon without justice. That is not possible, it is inconceivable," said one resident, Erick Wilibiro Sako.
"Does the constitution of Central Africa say that if you kill you get amnesty? If it does, fine but if it is not, then they must go to prison and that's it. There is no amnesty. What amnesty? I don't see amnesty here," added another resident, Laka Ambroise.
Thousands of people have died because of the unrest in the diamond and gold-producing country, and a fifth of the 4.5 million population have fled their homes. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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