Communique of the 737th Meeting of the PSC on the Situation in Central African Republic

COMMUNIQUE

The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), at its 737^th meeting, held on 21 November 2017, considered the situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) and adopted the following decision:

Council,

1. Takes note of the briefings made by the Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ambassador Smail Chergui and the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the Commission for CAR and Head of the AU Mission for the Central African Republic and Central Africa (MISAC), Mr. Nebie Bialializoun Moussa. Council also takes note of the statements made by the representative of the Republic of Gabon in its capacity as the current Chair of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), and by the Executive Secretary of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), as well as by the representatives of Egypt, in its capacity as an African Member of the United Nations Security Council, the General Secretariat of ECCAS, the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU);

2. Recalls all its previous communiques and press statements on the situation in CAR;

3. Expresses deep concern over the continuing deterioration of the security situation in the CAR, particularly the continued attacks of armed groups against the civilian population, including targeted killings against particular communities and the troops of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA);

4. Also expresses deep concern about the devastating consequences of these violent actions on the fragile stabilization process in the country, and the cohesion between the communities within the CAR and the already dire humanitarian situation in the country;

5. Urges the armed groups and self-defense militias to put an immediate end to their violent actions, in order to facilitate the rapid restoration of State authority throughout the CAR national territory. In this regard, Council urges all CAR armed groups to engage resolutely in the DDR programmes and the overall peace process underway in the country;

6. Welcomes the open-mindedness and outstretched hand demonstrated by President Faustin-Archange Touadera, through the discussions he has initiated with the

CAR armed groups and the implementation of other deployment of other efforts aimed at promoting dialogue and national reconciliation;

7. Commends the efforts of the African Union, through the African Initiative for Peace and Reconciliation in the CAR, with the support of the countries of the region through the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), Angola, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo and Chad and urges all the stakeholders in the Initiative to participate actively in the implementation of the roadmap adopted in Libreville, on 17 July 2017, and encourages the Facilitation Team to continue and intensify its efforts following its first meeting, held in Bangui, from 11 to 12 September 2017;

8. Requests the Chairperson of the Commission to urgently take the necessary steps to provide the required support of the AU towards the implementation of the African Initiative, particularly by making available the contribution of the AU to the budget allocated for the financing of the Initiative;

9. Stresses the need for ownership by the Central African people of the peace and reconciliation process in the CAR, as well as the imperative of inclusive dialogue, taking into full consideration the concerns and aspirations of the different components of the Central African society;

10. Welcomes the establishment of the Bangui Special Criminal Court, which is expected to promote justice for the people of the CAR and fight impunity in the country, as part of the promotion of healing and national reconciliation in the CAR;

11. Congratulates the Government of the CAR on the adoption of the Plan for Recovery and Peace Building (RCPCA) 2017-2019 and its efforts to implement it, despite many challenges that need to be addressed. In this regard, Council commends the important efforts made by the European Union to mobilise financial resources for the implementation of the RCPCA and for the reconstruction of the Central African Defense Forces. Council calls for the urgent actualization of the pledges made, taking into account the urgency of the actions that need to be taken within the framework of stabilization and peace building in the CAR;

12. Also commends the courageous efforts of MINSUCA in promoting civilian protection against the abuses being perpetrated by the armed and self-defense groups, in conformity with its mandate. Council welcomes the renewal of the mandate of MINUSCA by the United Nations Security Council, through Resolution 2387 (2017) of 15 November 2017, which, in particular, decided to increase the number of staff and build the operational capabilities of the mission. Council pays tribute to the United Nations Secretary-General for his particular interest in the situation in the Central African

Republic, through the visit he made there on the occasion of the United Nations Day on 24 October 2017;

13. Reaffirms the mandate of MISAC which, inter alia, and in close cooperation with the Regional and international organisations, to contribute to peace, security and stability efforts in the CAR and the Central African region, in line with the relevant decisions of the AU.

14. Decides to remain actively seized of the situation in the CAR.