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Information about the conflict in the Central African Republic - January 2013

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On the 17th January, a peace agreement was signed in Libreville between the Central African Republic’s current government, the opposition and the Séléka rebels (the Songo language alliances) who had begun a military offensive in the north of the country on the 10th December 2012, moving in the direction of the capital Bangui. The rebels reproach the president Bozizé for the non-application of the 2007 and 2011 peace agreements, especially in relation to disarmament and the integration of ex-rebel groups in the national army. The discontentment felt by the population living in the country’s interior who accuse the government of focusing his attentions on the capital, is also fueling the conflict.

Despite this peace agreement, the rebellion continues to promote abuses of power and communication with the “arrière pays” remains inexistent. In the Nana Gribizi municipality, 305 km from Bangui, rebels have been destroying houses and raping women and young girls for the last five days. Elisabeth Blanche Olofio, a Bambari local radio journalist, has disappeared. The women’s movement campaign to distribute her photo within the capital has pressured the president to mention the journalist in a speech; she is presumed to be alive, but no one knows her whereabouts. The situation in the country is becoming more and more complicated for women.

The peace agreement signed between the two parties does not mention the situation of the population in occupied zones. The price of staple food has multiplied by 10 and even those who have money are not able to move around freely, because of the muggings and robberies. Health services are also at risk in a county in which 2/3 of health structures in the provinces are run by churches, and therefore at a large risk of pillage. The schools are empty, with students and teachers staying away, particularly those who live far away and don’t have time to return home in the evening because of the curfew in place (currently reduced to the period between 11pm to 5am). Barriers set up by militia (either rebel or army soldiers) in the capital have been taken down.

The formal agreement remains far from the reality of the poorest communities furthest from the capital, although the mainstream media ignores them. The “Réseau des Femmes Croyantes Médiatrices de la Paix” (Network of Women Believers and Mediators for Peace), the TAPANDE ti Bé Africa Association and the Diocesan Coordination of Catholic Women (associations that are WMW members), in dialogue with the women from the “Christ the King Church” and the Association of Baptist women will meet next Tuesday, 22nd January, to address the issue of peace and an analysis of the Libreville peace agreement from women’s standpoint.

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Last modified 2013-01-21 04:26 PM
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