Accord de cessation des hostilités en République Centrafricaine (Brazzaville Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities)

• Country/entity

  Central African Republic
  
• Region

  Africa (excl MENA)
  
• Agreement name

  Accord de cessation des hostilités en République Centrafricaine (Brazzaville Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities)
• Date

  23 Jul 2014
• Agreement status

  Multiparty signed/agreed
• Interim arrangement

  Yes
• Agreement/conflict level

  Intrastate/intrastate conflict ( Central African Republic Conflicts (1996 - ) )
• Stage

  Ceasefire/related
• Conflict nature

  Government
• Peace process

  CAR: coups and rebellions process
• Parties

  Ont Signé: Les ex-Combattants et Eléments armés
  
  Pour le Front Populaire pour la Renaissance de la Centrafrique (FPRC),
  Géneral Mohamed MOUSSA DHAFANE
  
  Pour les anti-Balaka,
  Monsieur Patrice Edouard NGAISSONA
  
  Pour le Front Democratique du Peuple Centrafricain (FDPC),
  Monsieur André Le-Gaillard RINGUI
  
  Pour Révolution et Justice (RJ),
  Monsieur Armel SAYO
  
  Pour le Mouvement de Libération Centrafricaine pour la Justice (MLCJ),
  Monsieur ABAKAR SABONE
  
  Pour l'Union des forces Républicaines (UPR)
  Monsieur Florian N'DJADDER BEDAY
  
  Pour l'Union des Forces Républiques Fondamentales (UFRF)
  Monsieur Dieu-benit GBEYA-KIKOBE
• Third parties

  En présence de:
  
  Gouvernement de Transition:
  
  Le Ministre des Affaires Etrangères, de li'Integration Africaine et de la Francophonie,
  Son Excellence Toussaint KONGO-DOUDOU
  
  Conseil National de Transition,
  Honorable Alexandre Ferdinand N'GUENDET
  
  Alternative Citoyenne pour la Démocratie et la Paix (ACDP)
  Monsieur Enoch DERANT LAKOUE
  
  Ancienne Majorité Présidentielle
  Monsieur Laurent NGON-BABA
  
  Groupement des Partis Politiques/Républicains Travaillistes Légalistes (GPP/RTL),
  Monsieur Bertin BEA
  
  Union des Partis Politiques pour la Reconstruction Nationale (UPPRN),
  Pierre Abraham MBOKANI
  
  Rassemblement des autres Partis Politiques
  Monsieur Auguste BOUKANGA
  
  Partis Politiques sans Plateforme
  Monsieur Henri GOUANDIA
  
  Personnalités Indépendantes:
  
  - Madame Alphonsine BOGANDA-YANGONGO
  
  - Monsieur Stève KOBA
  
  Conseil National de la Jeunesse (CNJ)
  
  - Monsieur Félix Wulfrand RIVA
  - Monsieur Abdel-Aziz AROUFAЇ
  
  Organisation des Femmes Centrafricaines (OFCA)
  Madame Marie-Annick SERVICE
  
  Comité Consultatif des Femmes Leaders,
  Dr. SOKAMBI DIBERT BEKOY
  
  Haut Conseil de la Communication,
  Monsieur José Richard POUAMBI
  
  Syndicats des Travailleurs,
  Monsieur Michel LOUDEGUE
  
  Conféderation Nationale des Agriculteurs et éleveurs
  Madame Brigitte ANDARA
  
  Confessions Religieuses:
  - Monseigneur Dieudonné NZAPALAINGA
  - IMAM KOBINE LAYAMA
  
  Conseil Inter-ONG en Centrafrique (CIONGCA)
  Monsieur Célestin NGAKOLA
  
  Groupement Interprofessionnel Centrafrique (GICA),
  Monsieur Giles POTOLO NGBANGANDIMBO
  
  La Diaspora,
  Monsieur Maurice OUAMBO
  
  Déplacés Internes,
  Monsieur Jean Clause MALABI
  
  Communautés à Risques:
  - Monsieur ATAHIROU BALLA DODO
  - Madame ADJA ASTA MOUSSA
  
  La Médiation Internationale
  Pour Les Nations Unies
  Le Représentant Spécial du Secrétaire Général de l'ONU en Afrique Centrale,
  Monsieur Abdoulaye BATHILY
  
  Pour L'Union Africaine
  Le Vice-Médiateur,
  Monsieur SOUMAILOU BOUBEY MAIGA
  
  Pour la CEEAC
  Le Rapporteur
  Le Secrétaire Général de la CEEAC
  Ambassadeur Ahmad ALLAM-MI
  
  Le Médiateur international
  Le Président de la République du Congo
  Son Excellence Monsieur Denis SASSOU N'GUESSO
• Description

  A Short agreement ceasing hostilities between the conflict parties. The agreement covers ceasefire provisions, DDR, and some broader humanitarian issues.

• Agreement document

  CF_140723_Accord-Cessation-Hostilities_tr.pdf | Download PDF
• Agreement document (original language)

  CF_140723_Accord-cessation-hostilites.pdf | Download PDF

• Main category

  Page 1, PREAMBLE
  ...
  Considering the ongoing desire of Her Excellency Madame Catherine SAMBA-PANZA, Head of the State of Transition, reiterated in various speeches (Brussels, Paris, Oslo, Malabo) and her last address to the Nation on July 4, 2014, to promote political dialogue and national reconciliation among all the sons and daughters of Central Africa
  
  Page 2, Article 2
  The cessation of hostilities implies:
  ...
  • The cessation of all acts of violence against civil and military populations, and respect for and protection of human rights. These acts of violence include summary executions, torture, harassment, burning of villages and public and private property, destruction of religious buildings, pillage, the arbitrary detention and execution of civilian and military personnel, recruitment of child soldiers, sexual violence and arming civilians;
  
  Page 3, The ex-combatants and Central African armed elements agree the following, Article 5
  The parties also agree to:
  ...
  b. Prohibit and condemn all violence, including sexual violence, against civilian and military populations
  ...
  d. To end and prevent any future violations of children, in particular murder, mutilation, exploitation, rape and other violence
  
  Page 8, (signed) In the presence of:
  ...Organisation des Femmes Centrafricaines (OFCA) [Organisation of Central African Women]
  Madame Marie-Annick SERVICE
  ...Comité Consultatif des Femmes Leaders [Consultation Committee of Women Leaders]
  Dr. SOKAMBI DIBERT BEKOY

Women, girls and gender

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES AGREEMENT

PREAMBLE

Considering the relevant provisions in the United Nations Charter, the Resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, and in particular resolutions:

2121 (2013);

2127 (2014);

2134 (2014) and 2149 (2014) of the Constitutive Act of the African Union and the relevant decisions of the Central African Peace and Security Council of Central Africa (COPAX);

Considering the African Union Convention on the protection and assistance of displaced persons in Africa, signed in Kampala on October 23 2009;

Considering the regional resolutions on regulating the conflict in Central Africa;

notably Libreville Global Peace Agreement of 2008 and 2013, as well as the Ndjaema Declarations of 2013 and 2014;

Considering the national initiatives on conflict regulation, notably the Recommendations of the Inclusive Political Dialogue of December 20, 2008, the Charter of Constitutional Transition of 2013, and the Transition Route Map which resulted;

Conscious of the need for dialogue in order to establish a durable and secure peace throughout the national territory, an essential condition for reconstructing the country and building democracy;

Considering the ongoing desire of Her Excellency Madame Catherine SAMBA-PANZA, Head of the State of Transition, reiterated in various speeches (Brussels, Paris, Oslo, Malabo) and her last address to the Nation on July 4, 2014, to promote political dialogue and national reconciliation among all the sons and daughters of Central Africa;

Considering the enthusiasm across the nation, particularly among the institutions of the Transition, in the living forces of the Nation including the religious authorities, civil society and the political parties, to build a peaceful society and national agreement, by supporting the present Transition framework;

Reaffirming their desire to contribute to a definitive return to peace, to take part in the Brazzaville Forum and to sign an Agreement for the cessation of hostilities;

Reaffirming their unwavering determination to bring to an end the underlying causes of this ongoing state of violence, insecurity, political instability and exclusion which has reduced the Central African people to a state of distress and suffering, and which is gravely compromising any prospect of economic development, of equality and of social justice in the country;

Responding to the International Mediation led by his Excellency Denis SASSOU NGUESSO, President of the Republic of Congo, Mediator of the Central African crisis, assisted by Mr BOUBEYE MAÏGA, Representing the President of the Commission of the African Union and Mr Abdoulaye BATHILY, UN Secretary-General Special Representative for Central Africa, set up following the Meeting of Heads of State and of Government in the margins of the 23rd Ordinary Summit of the African Union, held in Malabo in Equatorial Guinea on June 27, 2014, on the situation in the Republic of Central Africa;

The ex-combatants and Central African armed elements agree the following:

Article 1:

- The present Cessation of Hostilities Agreement is established between the belligerents to take effect across the whole territory of the Central African Republic;

- The belligerents agree to end all hostilities upon signature of the Agreement;

Article 2:

The cessation of hostilities implies:

• An immediate end to hostilities and abstention from all military activities and all forms of violence;

• The cessation of all acts of violence against civil and military populations, and respect for and protection of human rights.

These acts of violence include summary executions, torture, harassment, burning of villages and public and private property, destruction of religious buildings, pillage, the arbitrary detention and execution of civilian and military personnel, recruitment of child soldiers, sexual violence and arming civilians;

• The denunciation of all acts of violence and violations of human rights and international humanitarian law

• Abstention from any action or provocation liable to damage efforts to build a spirit of fraternity and national harmony;

• Commitment by the parties to communicate cessation of hostilities to the general public within 24 hours of the date of signature of the present Agreement, via their respective chains of command and to the general public;

• The Parties to desist from all propaganda, and discourse of hatred and division based on religious, tribal or partisan allegiance;

and to put an end to acts of intolerance and media campaigns liable to provoke religious or political confrontation;

• The organisation of an information campaign for their supporters on the content of the present Agreement, and on the part of the government, one targeted on the whole Central African population.

Article 3:

As soon as the present Agreement enters into force:

a. The Parties commit to removing all obstacles to state authority in their respective zones, including in particular illegal barriers and parallel administrations.

b. The Parties commit to the global process of national reconciliation to be pursued in the Central African Republic, and to end immediately any restrictions on the free movement of goods and people throughout the national territory, and on the work of national and international actors in exercising their duties under different United Nations Resolutions.

c. The Parties undertake to remove from their ranks and repatriate any mercenaries such that they may return to their own countries with the support of the international community.

d. The Parties undertake to reject any project to divide up the Central African Republic.

Article 4:

All ex-combatants and armed elements signatories to the present Agreement must be re-grouped without undue delay, if the necessary resources are available, in areas to be mutually agreed with the Transition Government and the International Community.

Article 5:

The Parties also agree to:

a. Respect and engender respect for human rights;

b. Prohibit and condemn all violence, including sexual violence, against civilian and military populations;

c. To put in place a mechanism within their own organisations to monitor these commitments, and to report any violations to the competent authorities, to guard against impunity;

d. To end and prevent any future violations of children, in particular murder, mutilation, exploitation, rape and other violence;

e. To end the recruitment of child soldiers, in line with the African Charter for the Rights and Welfare of the Child, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Optional Protocol on the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict.

Article 6:

The parties undertake to:

a. Respect free movement in general, and in particular of humanitarian convoys, as well as humanitarian enclaves, and to create favourable conditions for assisting refugees and displaced persons;

b. To promote a favourable social and security environment for the return of refugees and displaced persons to their communities.

Article 7:

A priority programme must be implemented urgently in order to:

a. Create the necessary conditions for the return, reinstallation and reinsertion of persons displaced by the conflict;

b. Fight against criminality, in particular that specified in Article 2;

c. Rehabilitate the zones affected by the conflict.

Article 8:

The parties will establish a committee to monitor implementation of the present agreement as follows:

1. 01 representative per politico-military group;

2. G8-RCA;

3. 06 representatives of the Transition Institutions (Presidency, CNT, Government).

This Committee should establish regional and local sub-committees as needed.

The monitoring committee for implementation of the present Agreement may be advised by any qualified person.

Article 9:

In case of any litigation or disagreement arising during the implementation of this agreement, the Parties may refer to the Monitoring Committee.

If this fails they may request International Mediation.

Article 10:

The present Agreement enters into force upon signature.

Done in Brazzaville, July 23, 2014

Signatures