“Procés Verbal” of the Kara-Goula meeting

  • Country/entity
    Central African Republic
  • Region
    Africa (excl MENA)
  • Agreement name
    “Procés Verbal” of the Kara-Goula meeting
  • Date
    30 Aug 2019
  • Agreement status
    Multiparty signed/agreed
  • Interim arrangement
    Yes
  • Agreement/conflict level
    Intrastate/local conflict ( Central African Republic Conflicts (1996 - ) )
  • Stage
    Framework/substantive - partial
  • Conflict nature
    Inter-group
  • Peace process
    CAR: Local Processes
  • Parties
    Le Rapporteur - Jérémie NADRE
    Le Président de la séance - ABDRAMANE Ramadan

    Noms des signateurs considérant comme derniere Pacte d'alliance entre la Communauté Goula et Kara le 30/08/2019 à Délémbé

    Goula Community:
    - El HADJE IBRAHIM ABDOULAYE. chef de race Goula
    - MAHAMAT Katre. Conseiller municipal (C. Onandya)
    - MAHAMAT Charfadine. chef de groupe village (Tiringoubu)
    - MAHAMAT Charli. chef de groupe village (Onandya)
    - SID AMAMAT. cherif chef de groupe village (Gordil)
    Fait à Delembe le, 30/08/2019
    IBRAHIM Abdoulaye
    [signature]

    Communauté Kara:
    - ABDRAHAMANE Ramadane. chef de race (Kara)
    - BACKITE Karam. vice-president chef de race (Kara)
    - ABDEL AZIZE Chaïb. Conseiller Communautaire
    - ABDOULAYE DAOUD. chef de groupe village (Délémbe)
    - AMAMAT Radjab. chef de village (ROKOTO)
    Fait à Delembe le, 30/08/2019
    [signature]
    ABDRAHAMANE Ramadane
  • Third parties
    -
  • Description
    This short agreement recounts the agreed points of the meeting between the Kara and Goula communities in Vakaga, where the representatives agreed to peacefully cohabit the area and to support the state's activities in the area.

Local agreement properties

  • Process type
    Formal structured process
  • Rationale
    The agreement was signed after a meeting apparently held under the auspice of the CAR state and local administrative office.
  • Is there a documented link to a national peace process?
    No
  • Link to national process: articulated rationale
    Although the meeting is apparently held under the auspice of the CAR State and local administrative office, and it affirms the authority of the State in the region, the agreement does not include any link to the national process and emphasises the local nature of the conflict to be resolved.
  • Name of Locale
    Délémbé
  • Nature Of Locale
    Smaller
  • GPS Lat/Long (DD)
    9.845728, 22.648219
  • Participant type
    Local state actor
    Local community/civilian group(s)/civil society organisations
  • Mediator, facilitator or similar
    No mention of mediator or similar

Local issues

  • Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture)
    Page 2,
    Finally, a dozen representatives of the two communities swore on the Koran and signed a document to formalise this agreement.
    The meeting ended at 10:35, with a prayer given by Sheik Djouma Issa followed by some closing words from the Chair, who clarified that an official ceremony will be held in Birao in the coming days.
  • Grievance List

    No specific mention.

  • Cattle rustling/banditry

    No specific mention.

  • Social cover
    Page 2:

    Regarding the second point, the participants decided to shine a brighter light on criminal acts: “From now on, we can only tolerate involuntary criminal acts”. In cases where crime is committed voluntarily, the party must be held responsible for his acts before the court.

VAKAGA PREFECTURE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

**** Unity-Dignity-Work

SUB-PREFECTURE OF BIRAO

MINUTES OF THE RECONCILIATION MEETING BETWEEN KARA AND GOULA COMMUNITIES

Considering the repeated crises which have taken place in Vakaga and the surrounding areas, the Kara community, in light of the effects of the same, initiated a meeting with the Goula community on 30 August 2019 in Delembe, located 55km from Birao on the Ouanda-Djalle axis.

More than 150 participants of the two ethnic communities attended to take part in this meeting, including:

The sub-prefect of Ouadda Maikaga,

The ethnic chief of the Kara community

The ethnic chief of the Goula community,

The leader of the Tiringoulou group,

The leader of the Ouandja group and

The radio correspondent Ndeke Luka, to provide media coverage.

The following points were on the agenda:

Reconciliation for long-term peaceful cohabitation;

Defining criminal responsibility in the event of voluntary or involuntary crime.

The meeting began at 8:08am with a prayer given by the Imam Abbou Awaye.

Next, Mr. Ramadan Abdramane, the ethnic chief of the Kara community and Chair of the meeting, said a few words of welcome.

In his speech, he introduced the goal of the meeting, which is to “reconcile with our close Goula relatives”.

Not only do we have family ties but history shows that these two communities and the Yulus were the first occupants of Vakaga in the 15th century.

And, during the colonial period, these three communities were involved in constructing public buildings in Birao.

He went on to add that this meeting will allow us to put an end to ethnic divisions among 80% of the population of Birao and, therefore, in Vakaga.

This is a factor which is hindering local development.

Coming to the first point on the agenda, that is, reconciliation, the Chair gave the floor to the attendees.

The participants showed great interest in this point and stressed that there had been several past reconciliations between the parties, which were not respected.

This is due to hatred and the misconduct of local authorities which, due to personal interest, favour foreigners to the detriment of indigenous peoples.

These friendships based on self-interest are detrimental to the population and results in killings, thefts, etc.

In summary, after discussion, the participants recommended that

the two communities peacefully cohabit with others in the city of Birao;

the authority of the State be effective through the various decentralized services throughout Vakaga.

Regarding the second point, the participants decided to shine a brighter light on criminal acts:

“From now on, we can only tolerate involuntary criminal acts”.

In cases where crime is committed voluntarily, the party must be held responsible for his acts before the court.

Finally, a dozen representatives of the two communities swore on the Koran and signed a document to formalise this agreement.

The meeting ended at 10:35, with a prayer given by Sheik Djouma Issa followed by some closing words from the Chair, who clarified that an official ceremony will be held in Birao in the coming days.

Done in Delembe, on (not dated)

The Clerk Chair of the meeting

Jeremie Nadre

Chair of the meeting

Abdramane Ramadan

Minutes of meeting between Kara and Goula communities on 30 August 2019

(Names of signatories) *some names and titles not legible*

Other signatories:

El Hasse Ibrahim Absoulaya – Illegible

Mahamat Katre – Conseiller Municipal (Illegible)

Mahamat Gharfadine – Chief de groupe Village (Illegibe)

Mahamat Charli – Chief de groupe Village (Illegible)

Mahamat Cherif – Chief de groupe Village (Gordil)

Fait a selembre, 30/08/2019

Ibrahim Absoulaya

(Illegible) Kara:

Aborahamane Ramadame – Chief de (Illegible)(Kara)

Backite Karam – Vice President chief de (Illegible) (Kara)

Aboelazize Ghaib – Conseiller Communautaire

Absoulaye (Illegible) – Chief de groupe Village (Ilegible)

Ahamat Radjab – Chief de Village (Rokoto)

Fait a Selembre le, 30/08/2019

Aborahamane Ramadame