Vers le Dialogue Républicain pour la paix et l’avenir de la RCA Déclaration de Rome

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Country/entity: Central African Republic
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Vers le Dialogue Républicain pour la paix et l’avenir de la RCA Déclaration de Rome
Date: 29 Sep 2021
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/intrastate 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: Renewal
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: CAR: Local Processes
Parties: Page 2. Ernest Mada – Prime Minister (Head of the Government)

Evariste Ngamana – General Rapporteur of MCU, first deputy-chair of the National Assembly

Martin Ziguele – Head of the political party Mouvement pour la Libération du Peuple Centrafricain

Crépin Mboli Goumba – Head of the political party PATRIE

Léonie Banga Bothy – Representative of the Technical Secretariat of the CAR

Mahamat Kamoun –Head of the political party Centrafrique pour nous tous

Anicet Georges Dologuele – Head of the political party URCA

Christian Olivier Guenebem-Dedizoum – Interim General Secretary of the political party KNK

Charles Armel Doubane – Former Minister of Foreign Affairs

Cyriaque Gonda - Head of the political party PNCN

Bruno Hyacinthe Gbiegba – Lawyer and active member of civil society

Blandine Asta Moussa Nee Kpassa – Representative of the Muslim Community

Marie Edith Douzima – Head of the Commission Vérité et justice (Truth and Justice)

Audrey Pamela Derom – Chair of the National Council of the Young of the CAR and Assistant General Secretary of the Pan-African Union of the Young

Paul Crescent Beminga – Representative of the technical committee for the national dialogue

Armelle Nadege Kpangba – Elections consultation framework

Jean Emmanuel Aime Zanga Metho – Representative of the Ambassadors of Peace

Cedric Anthony Rodrigue Kongbo Gbassinga – General secretary of bishops of Central African Republic

Oumarou Abakar Ousmane – -Speaker of the Muslim Community of CAR

Deleris Ahamat – Chair of the Islamic Committee of CAR, PK5

Abdoulaye Ouassalegue – Representative of the inter-religious platform

Nicolas Aime Simplice Singa Gbazia – Chair of the Alliance of the Evangelicals of CAR
Third parties: -
Description: Agreement that reaffirms rhetorical commitment to inclusive dialogue, removing ethnic and religious hatreds, working towards good governance, management of natural resources and democracy, and calls on armed groups for a definitive ceasefire.

Agreement document: CF_210929_Towards a Republican Dialogue for peace and future of CAR.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF
Agreement document (original language): CF_210929_Vers le Dialogue Républicain pour la paix et l’avenir de la RCA.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→Substantive
Page 1, para 5. reaffirming our firm desire for the women and men of the Central African Republic wanting to live together an to respect the laws, institutions and customs of our Republic in order to rebuild the CAR in peace and national harmony, propose the following:

...

6. Removing ethnic and religious hatred and avoiding manipulation of all kinds, especially on religious grounds ;
Religious groups: Groups→Religious groups→Substantive
Page 1, para 5. Reaffirming our firm desire for the women and men of the Central African Republic wanting to live together an to respect the laws, institutions and customs of our Republic in order to rebuild the CAR in peace and national harmony, propose the following:

...

4. Guaranteeing freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom of movement and personal security of all Central Africans, and in particular of political leaders, civil society and religious communities who will participate in the Republican Dialogue;

...

6. Removing ethnic and religious hatred and avoiding manipulation of all kinds, especially on religious grounds ;
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, para 1. We, the women and men of the Central African Republic, representing political parties, civil society and religious confessions, gathered in Rome under the invitation of the Sant’Egidio Community on the days of 27, 28 and 29 September 2021,

Page 1, para 5. Reaffirming our firm desire for the women and men of the Central African Republic wanting to live together an to respect the laws, institutions and customs of our Republic in order to rebuild the CAR in peace and national harmony,
Men and boys: Gender→Men and boys→Other
Page 1, para 1. We, the women and men of the Central African Republic, representing political parties, civil society and religious confessions, gathered in Rome under the invitation of the Sant’Egidio Community on the days of 27, 28 and 29 September 2021,

Page 1, para 5. Reaffirming our firm desire for the women and men of the Central African Republic wanting to live together an to respect the laws, institutions and customs of our Republic in order to rebuild the CAR in peace and national harmony,
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): Page 1, para 5. Reaffirming our firm desire for the women and men of the Central African Republic wanting to live together an to respect the laws, institutions and customs of our Republic in order to rebuild the CAR in peace and national harmony,
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: Page 1, para 1. We, the women and men of the Central African Republic, representing political parties, civil society and religious confessions, gathered in Rome under the invitation of the Sant’Egidio Community on the days of 27, 28 and 29 September 2021,

Page 1, 4. Guaranteeing freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom of movement and personal security of all Central Africans, and in particular of political leaders, civil society and religious communities who will participate in the Republican Dialogue ;
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, para 5. Reaffirming our firm desire for the women and men of the Central African Republic wanting to live together an to respect the laws, institutions and customs of our Republic in order to rebuild the CAR in peace and national harmony,
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
Civil and political rights: Human rights and equality→Civil and political rights→Freedom of movement
Page 1, para 5. Reaffirming our firm desire for the women and men of the Central African Republic wanting to live together an to respect the laws, institutions and customs of our Republic in order to rebuild the CAR in peace and national harmony, propose the following:

...

4. Guaranteeing freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom of movement and personal security of all Central Africans, and in particular of political leaders, civil society and religious communities who will participate in the Republican Dialogue;
Human rights and equality→Civil and political rights→Freedom of speech
Page 1, para 5. Reaffirming our firm desire for the women and men of the Central African Republic wanting to live together an to respect the laws, institutions and customs of our Republic in order to rebuild the CAR in peace and national harmony, propose the following:

...

4. Guaranteeing freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom of movement and personal security of all Central Africans, and in particular of political leaders, civil society and religious communities who will participate in the Republican Dialogue;
Human rights and equality→Civil and political rights→Thought, opinion, conscience and religion
Page 1, para 5. Reaffirming our firm desire for the women and men of the Central African Republic wanting to live together an to respect the laws, institutions and customs of our Republic in order to rebuild the CAR in peace and national harmony, propose the following:

...

4. Guaranteeing freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom of movement and personal security of all Central Africans, and in particular of political leaders, civil society and religious communities who will participate in the Republican Dialogue;
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: Page 1, para 5. Reaffirming our firm desire for the women and men of the Central African Republic wanting to live together an to respect the laws, institutions and customs of our Republic in order to rebuild the CAR in peace and national harmony, propose the following:

...

10. Working towards strengthening the democracy in our country and creating a healthy climate for the governance by promoting education, civic-mindedness and training of young people;
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: Rights related issues→Media and communication→Other
Page 1, para 5. Reaffirming our firm desire for the women and men of the Central African Republic wanting to live together an to respect the laws, institutions and customs of our Republic in order to rebuild the CAR in peace and national harmony, propose the following:

...

2. Promoting a fraternal communication and banning hate speech and intolerance ;
Mobility/access: No specific mention.
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: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: Page 1, para 5. Reaffirming our firm desire for the women and men of the Central African Republic wanting to live together an to respect the laws, institutions and customs of our Republic in order to rebuild the CAR in peace and national harmony,

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: Socio-economic reconstruction→Development or socio-economic reconstruction→Socio-economic development
Page 1, para 3. Aware that this dialogue is a fundamental step in bringing peace and security back to the CAR, establishing lasting reconciliation between Central Africans, and leading our country onto the path to development.

Page 1, para 5. Reaffirming our firm desire for the women and men of the Central African Republic wanting to live together an to respect the laws, institutions and customs of our Republic in order to rebuild the CAR in peace and national harmony, propose the following:

...

8. Maintaining a close link between economic development, security and stability;
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: Page 1, para 5. Reaffirming our firm desire for the women and men of the Central African Republic wanting to live together an to respect the laws, institutions and customs of our Republic in order to rebuild the CAR in peace and national harmony, propose the following:

...

7. Working towards good governance and towards reasonable and transparent management of public goods and natural resources of our country by adopting a policy of economic reappropriation
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, para 5. Reaffirming our firm desire for the women and men of the Central African Republic wanting to live together an to respect the laws, institutions and customs of our Republic in order to rebuild the CAR in peace and national harmony, propose the following:

...

3. Adopting political and security measures to ease the existing tensions in order to create good conditions for a dialogue

...

4. Guaranteeing freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom of movement and personal security of all Central Africans, and in particular of political leaders, civil society and religious communities who will participate in the Republican Dialogue;

...

8. Maintaining a close link between economic development, security and stability;
Ceasefire: Security sector→Ceasefire→General commitments
Page 2, para 1. We solemnly call the armed groups to lay down their weapons, to declare a definitive ceasefire and to stop laying the anti-personnel mines and to return to the Republic and accept the DDRR, we also ask for the dissolution of self-appointed defense groups and militias,
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: Security sector→DDR→Demilitarisation provisions
Page 2, para 1. We solemnly call the armed groups to lay down their weapons, to declare a definitive ceasefire and to stop laying the anti-personnel mines and to return to the Republic and accept the DDRR, we also ask for the dissolution of self-appointed defense groups and militias,
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: No specific mention.
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: No specific mention.

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: Sant'Egidio. 2023. Vers le Dialogue Républicain pour la paix et l’avenir de la RCA Déclaration de Rome. Available online at: https://www.santegidio.org//downloads/Declaration-de-Rome-29-Septembre-2021.pdf Accessed 13/12/22.

Towards a Republican Dialogue for peace and future of CAR

Rome Declaration

We, the women and men of the Central African Republic, representing political parties, civil society and religious confessions, gathered in Rome under the invitation of the Sant’Egidio Community on the days of 27, 28 and 29 September 2021,

after three years of rich and sincere discussions about the future of the Central African Republic, driven by the ardent desire for the success of the Republican Dialogue (RD) announced by the President of the Republic, Head of the State,

aware that this dialogue is a fundamental step in bringing peace and security back to the CAR, establishing lasting reconciliation between Central Africans, and leading our country onto the path to development.

Expressing the deep wish that this dialogue be inclusive and that it be an opportunity for constructive exchange between Central Africans without interference;

reaffirming our firm desire for the women and men of the Central African Republic wanting to live together an to respect the laws, institutions and customs of our Republic in order to rebuild the CAR in peace and national harmony,

propose the following:

1. Being attentive to the needs, desires and hardships of the Central African people ;

2. Promoting a fraternal communication and banning hate speech and intolerance ;

3. Adopting political and security measures to ease the existing tensions in order to create good conditions for a dialogue

4. Guaranteeing freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom of movement and personal security of all Central Africans, and in particular of political leaders, civil society and religious communities who will participate in the Republican Dialogue ;

5. Purifying our memory and refraining form making the Republican Dialogue a tribunal to run trials, or an opportunity to achieve impunity;

instead, promoting the interest of the nation rather than achievements of an individual ;

6. Removing ethnic and religious hatred and avoiding manipulation of all kinds, especially on religious grounds ;

7. Working towards good governance and towards reasonable and transparent management of public goods and natural resources of our country by adopting a policy of economic reappropriation ;

8. Maintaining a close link between economic development, security and stability ;

9. Working towards the improvement of bilateral and multilateral cooperation ;

10. Working towards strengthening the democracy in our country and creating a healthy climate for the governance by promoting education, civic-mindedness and training of young people ;

11. Working towards strengthening the institutions of the Republic so that they are powerful and representative.

We solemnly call the armed groups to lay down their weapons, to declare a definitive ceasefire and to stop laying the anti-personnel mines and to return to the Republic and accept the DDRR,

we also ask for the dissolution of self-appointed defense groups and militias,

we invite the leaders of our country and the political forces of the Nation to prepare the pathway for dialogue in a spirit of openness, humility and pragmatism while being aware of the immensity of the suffering of the Central African nation.

God bless the CAR!

Rome, 29 September 2021

List of Participants

Ernest MADA – Prime Minister (Head of the Government)

Evariste NGAMANA – General Rapporteur of MCU, first deputy-chair of the National Assembly

Martin ZIGUELE – Head of the political party Mouvement pour la Libération du Peuple Centrafricain

Crépin MBOLI GOUMBA – Head of the political party PATRIE

Léonie BANGA BOTHY – Representative of the Technical Secretariat of the CAR

Mahamat KAMOUN –Head of the political party Centrafrique pour nous tous

Anicet Georges DOLOGUELE – Head of the political party URCA

Christian Olivier GUENEBEM-DEDIZOUM – Interim General Secretary of the political party KNK

Charles Armel DOUBANE – Former Minister of Foreign Affairs

Cyriaque GONDA - Head of the political party PNCN

Bruno HYACINTHE GBIEGBA – Lawyer and active member of civil society

Blandine Asta MOUSSA NEE KPASSA – Representative of the Muslim Community

Marie Edith DOUZIMA – Head of the Commission Vérité et justice (Truth and Justice)

Audrey Pamela DEROM – Chair of the National Council of the Young of the CAR and Assistant General Secretary of the Pan-African Union of the Young

Paul Crescent BENINGA – Representative of the technical committee for the national dialogue

Armelle Nadege KPANGBA – Elections consultation framework

Jean Emmanuel AIME ZANGA METHO – Representative of the Ambassadors of Peace

Cedric Anthony Rodrigue KONGBO GBASSINGA – General secretary of bishops of Central African Republic

Oumarou Abakar OUSMANE – -Speaker of the Muslim Community of CAR

Deleris AHAMAT – Chair of the Islamic Committee of CAR, PK5

Abdoulaye OUASSALEGUE – Representative of the inter-religious platform

Nicolas Aime Simplice SINGA GBAZIA – Chair of the Alliance of the Evangelicals of CAR