CAR warring factions declare truce
Representatives of the Central African Republic (CAR)'s two warring factions have declared a truce in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi.
The the Christian anti-Balaka and mostly Muslim Seleka groups signed an unconditional ceasefire on Thursday and pledged to stop launching assaults against civilians, said Kenyan mediator Kenneth Otiato Marende.
Kenya was encouraged by the African Union (AU) to take the lead on the CAR peace talks.
Representatives of the two armed groups have previously signed ceasefire deals that were violated later.
The CAR plunged into chaos and sectarian violence in 2012 after the two militia groups turned their guns on each other to dominate the crisis-stricken country’s politics and vast mineral resources.
In December 2013, the anti-Balaka group launched coordinated attacks against Seleka, which had toppled the government in March 2013.
In an attempt to restore peace and stability to the former French colony, a transitional government headed by Catherine Samba Panza was formed in August 2014, including members from different political parties as well as the Seleka and anti-Balaka groups.
The interim government, supported by international peacekeepers, is currently trying to pave the way for a peaceful election in the country.
UN appeals for more peacekeepers
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has also urged the 15-member UN Security Council to add 1,030 peacekeepers to strengthen the CAR peacekeeping operation which is due to be mandated anew in April.
Ban in a letter to the Security Council said, “The security situation [in the CAR] remains volatile and clashes between anti-Balaka and ex-Seleka elements continue.”
“Pockets of vulnerable Muslim communities remain under nearly constant threat and in dire humanitarian conditions, despite the efforts of the international forces,” he added.
In December 2013, the African Union deployed nearly 5,600 peacekeepers. Later, an additional 2,000 French troops were deployed to help maintain security in the country of 4.6 million people.
The United Nations took the AU mission in September 2014.
However, the UN said it had to dedicate more troops to protect CAR's capital, Bangui, and critical infrastructure as well as senior officials when the violence escalated in Bangui in October 2014. The world body added that it needed more soldiers to secure areas outside the capital.
MIS/NN/MHB
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