Reconciliation pact between the North-Eastern communities (Vakaga, Bamingui-Bangoran, Haute-Kotto)

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Country/entity: Central African Republic
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Reconciliation pact between the North-Eastern communities (Vakaga, Bamingui-Bangoran, Haute-Kotto)
Date: 10 Nov 2020
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/local conflict
Central African Republic Conflicts (1996 - )
The Central African Republic conflict is one of a set of regionally connected conflicts addressed by the African Great Lakes process. After the country gained independence from France in 1960 it has been ruled by a sequence of autocratic leaders that principally gained power through coups. Since the mid-1990s several waves of internal conflict took place in the Central African Republic, primarily along tribal, and later-on increasingly sectarian, lines. In 1996 and 1997, French troops and soldiers from neighbouring countries intervened to end a mutiny in the capital, Bangui, by factions of the army. The fighting was predominantly along tribal lines, with southern tribes in revolt against the ‘northern’ government. A UN mission was installed in 1998 to secure the truce.
After General Bozizé took control of the country after several coup attempts in 2003, a ‘bush war’ began led by armed opposition forces. From late 2006 onward, government troops with French military support severely weakened the rebels. Following this, a number of agreements were signed during 2007-2008, but not all factions have accepted them. In 2011, Bozizé was re-elected in supposedly fraudulent elections, which resulted in a new wave of uprisings. Séléka, an alliance of northern rebel groups, took over parts of the country and forced Bozizé to agree to a power-sharing deal. However, after this agreement broke down, Séléka took control of Bangui and Bozizé had to flee the country in 2013. Leader of Séléka, Michel Djotodia, took office and officially disbanded Séléka. However, continual violence between ex-Séléka groups and opposing militias, collectively known as ‘anti-balaka’, persisted and Djotodia was forced to resign less than a year later. Catherine Samba-Panza was installed as interim president until Faustin Archange Touadéra was elected in January 2016. In February 2019 an agreement was signed between the government and fourteen armed groups, including ex-Seleka groups, committed to disarmament. However, violence between ex-Seleka groups and anti-balaka continues.
Stage: Framework/substantive - comprehensive
Conflict nature: Inter-group
Peace process: CAR: Local Processes
Parties: Representatives of Vakaga
Amgabo Moustapha (Sultan mayor)
Adramane Ramadane (Kara)
Ibrahim Abdoulaye (Goula)
Oumar Garba (Haoussa)
Abakar Yaya (Rounga)
Adam Idriss (Youlou)
Assane Amadou (Foulata)
Abdoulaye Tidjiane (Bornou)

Representatives of Haute-Kotto
Samba Rene Valentin (Banda)
Atahir Ali (Arabe)
Yaya Idriss Doungouss (Rounga)
Djouma Felix (Sara)
Assane Zakaria (Kara)
Ibrahim Ahamat (Goula)
Ahamat Aliou (Peul)
Dalkia Gilbert (Ndoka)
Blitchi Rosalie (women)
Balekouzou Maurice (mayor)
Aboubakar Siddick Ali (Bornou)

Representatives of Bamingui-Bangoran
Senoussi Ibrahim (Sultan mayor)
Yacoub Ibrahim (Rounga)
Mahamat Kamiss (Ndoka)
Makossa Bangui Pierre (Banda)
Hamat Driwich
Moussa Ngade Daniel (Sara)
Atahir Hamdan (Arab)
Outmane Amine (Djeme)
Senoussi Fatime (women)
Ahmat Moussa (youth)
Third parties: -
Description: In this agreement, the representatives of the local communities in Bamingui-Bangoran, Vakaga, and Haute-Kotto commit to resolving differences peacefully, maintaining the mobility for people and goods, ending violence and cruelty towards women, ending summary and extrajudicial executions. Additionally, they also make demands towards the Government, armed groups, and the guarantors and facilitators of the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation (for list of demands, see 'Important Provisions').

Agreement document: CF_201110_Reconciliation pact between the North-Eastern communities (Vakaga, Bamingui-Bangoran, Haute-Kotto)_tr.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF
Agreement document (original language): CF_201110_Reconciliation pact between the North-Eastern communities (Vakaga, Bamingui-Bangoran, Haute-Kotto).pdf (opens in new tab)| Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: Groups→Racial/ethnic/national group→Anti-discrimination
Page 1:
We agree as follows:
...
• To avoid all forms of ethnic and religious discrimination;
Religious groups: Groups→Religious groups→Anti-discrimination
Page 1:
We agree as follows:
...
• To avoid all forms of ethnic and religious discrimination;
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: No specific mention.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: Page 1:
We agree as follows:
...
• To end violence and cruel treatment against women;

Page 3:
Signatory parties
Representatives of Haute-Kotto
...
Blitchi Rosalie (women)

Representatives of Bamingui-Bangoran
...
Senoussi Fatime (women)
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): No specific mention.
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): No specific mention.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: No specific mention.
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: Page 1:
We agree as follows:
...
• To respect the rights and freedoms of all human beings living in the region,
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: Page 1:
We agree as follows:
...
• To strictly respect the free movement of people and goods,
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: Page 1:
We agree as follows:
...
• From now on, to favor dialogue and the judicial process as a method of settling disputes
...
• To put a definitive end to summary and extrajudicial executions;
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: No specific mention.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: Page 1:
We agree as follows:
...
• To avoid the looting of natural resources in the North-Eastern Region, or indeed promoting this;
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: Page 1,
We agree as follows:
•   To bury the hatchet definitively;
•   From now on, to favor dialogue and the judicial process as a method of settling disputes
•   To respect the rights and freedoms of all human beings living in the region,
•   To strictly respect the free movement of people and goods,
•   To put a definitive end to summary and extrajudicial executions;
•   To end violence and cruel treatment against women;
•   To avoid all forms of ethnic and religious discrimination;
•   To avoid the looting of natural resources in the North-Eastern Region, or indeed promoting this;
•   To denounce alliances with foreign mercenaries;
•   To reinforce a lasting Reconciliation between the different communities;
•   To educate and train communities on social cohesion and cohabitation;
•   To Involve the Association of VAKAGA Nationals for Development (AREVAD) in the implementation of this pact.
Ceasefire: Security sector→Ceasefire→General commitments
Page 1,
We agree as follows:
• To bury the hatchet definitively;
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: Page 1,
We agree as follows:
...
• To denounce alliances with foreign mercenaries;
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: Page 1:
We agree as follows:
•   To bury the hatchet definitively;
...
•   To reinforce a lasting Reconciliation between the different communities;
•   To educate and train communities on social cohesion and cohabitation;
•   To Involve the Association of VAKAGA Nationals for Development (AREVAD) in the implementation of this pact.

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: No specific mention.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: On file with PA-X PI

RECONCILIATION PACT BETWEEN THE NORTH-EASTERN COMMUNITIES (VAKAGA, ΒΑΜΙΝGUI-ΒΑΝGΟRΑΝ, ΗΑUΤΕ-ΚΟΤΤΟ)

PREAMBLE

We, Representatives of the North-Eastern Communities (Vakaga, Bamingui-Bangoran, and Haute-Kotto), gathered in Bangui from November 9 to November 10, 2020, as part of the great Reconciliation Meeting,

• Considering the recurrence of military-political crises in the Central African Republic;

• Considering the multifaceted consequences of the 2012 crisis and its long-lasting effects, both on the functioning of public services and the populations;

• Considering the recent violence between the various communities of the North-East, and the resulting material damage and loss of human life;

• Considering that this violence has broken the secular bonds of cohabitation and cohesion between these different communities;

• Aware that the persistence of this violence constitutes an obstacle to the reconstruction of the North-Eastern region;

• Conscious of the importance of peace as an essential factor in development;

• Considering the peace and reconciliation initiatives implemented by the Government, with the support of partners;

Reaffirming the adherence of all communities to the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic (APPR - RCA)

• Considering the will of the different communities to move towards peace and reconciliation, shown through various pacts and documents signed between said communities,

• Considering that this will was strongly reaffirmed during these meetings;

• Considering the conclusions of the great Bangui Meeting, held from November 9 to 10, 2020 under the Very High Patronage of His Excellency Professor Faustin Archange TOUADERA, President of the Republic, Head of State, and which considered all wishes expressed by the communities

We agree as follows:

• To bury the hatchet definitively;

• From now on, to favor dialogue and the judicial process as a method of settling disputes

• To respect the rights and freedoms of all human beings living in the region,

• To strictly respect the free movement of people and goods,

• To put a definitive end to summary and extrajudicial executions;

• To end violence and cruel treatment against women;

• To avoid all forms of ethnic and religious discrimination;

• To avoid the looting of natural resources in the North-Eastern Region, or indeed promoting this;

• To denounce alliances with foreign mercenaries;

• To reinforce a lasting Reconciliation between the different communities;

• To educate and train communities on social cohesion and cohabitation;

• To Involve the Association of VAKAGA Nationals for Development (AREVAD) in the implementation of this pact.

Our demands:

1. to the Government

• The pursuit of the Restoration of State Authority in the Northeast;

• The total disarmament of armed groups;

• The return of Internally Displaced Persons with living support and supply of construction materials;

• To declare the city of Bria "the City without Weapons" and the Prefecture of Bamingui-Bangoran, "the Prefecture without weapons" in consultation with the former armed groups;

• The removal of illegal barriers on all routes;

• To build up Bahidon into a fully-fledged commune;

• To divide Bria into three (3) electoral constituencies;

• To guarantee border security with Chad and Sudan;

• To identify, list, and close all roads that link the borders of the Northeast with Chad and Sudan;

• To deploy defense and security forces at the borders with Chad, and Sudan (Amdafock, Boromata, Tissifongoro, and Sikikédé);

• To involve all ethnic groups in the management of municipal affairs;

• To list the houses destroyed and burnt during the conflict for repair;

• To prosecute those identified as authors, co-authors, and accomplices of these conflicts;

• To support the communities of Vakaga for the establishment of a Committee of Elders for the prevention of conflicts;

• To set up the PCA of OUANDJA and SAM OUANDJA to bring the administration closer to the populations;

• To decentralize the service for issuing national identity cards in remote prefectures;

• To facilitate the issuing of identity cards and passports to communities in the Northeast;

• To create jobs and training centers for young people in the region;

• To divide DAR EL KOUTI into three (3) communes and two (2) electoral districts;

• To reopen the gendarmerie posts at NGARBA BORD and NIAMANI;

• To promote local governance;

• To allocate resources equitably and inclusively, based on the advantages and benefits of the Region;

• To set up local development projects for the Northeast Region;

• To accelerate the opening up of the North-Eastern Region through the construction of road infrastructures;

• To ensure the departure of foreign warlords from the Northeast Region;

• To consider different ethnic groups in the constitution of special delegations;

• To continue the rehabilitation of remand and health centers in the North-Eastern Region;

• To establish a monitoring and popularization mechanism of the Pact;

2. to the armed groups

• Scrupulous respect for the Peace Agreement of February 6, 2019 (APPR - RCA) including the complete dissolution of their groups;

• The dismantling of illegal barriers, which are sources of conflict;

• Allow for the free movement of people and goods in the North-East;

• To respect the rights of individuals and the dignity of the human person;

• To ensure reconciliation between each other;

• To ensure the liberation of administrative buildings occupied by armed groups;

• To abolish parallel tax and customs collection services;

3. to the Guarantors and Facilitators of the APPR-RCA

• Provide multifaceted support to the parties to the Agreement with a view to them scrupulously respecting their commitments;

Done in Bangui, November 10, 2020

Signatory Parties:

Representatives of Haute-Kotto

Representatives of Vakaga

Representatives of Bamingui-Bangoran