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| Africa Subsaharan |
| CAR: Cautious Welcome for Rebel Ceasefire |
| 2008-05-14 |
| 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. "It is a step towards resolving the conflict," said Professor Mathias Morouba, who chairs both the Central African Human Rights Observatory and the country's Peace and Justice Commission. "People want things to change, they are still in anguish," he said, adding that the deal was just one part of the long-term solution to CAR's problems. "It's good for the political settlement. But what will happen to those who lost relatives or goods during the rebellion? The government must take these people into account, otherwise we run the risk of creating new rebellions in the future," he said. Toby Lanzer, the UN's humanitarian coordinator in CAR, described the latest ceasefire, which follows similar deals with two other rebel groups, as "the best sign yet that sustainable peace is possible in CAR's northwest. Tensions should now subside, [humanitarian] operations can expand, and more people can be helped." |
| Posted by:Steve White |