Declaration of Heads of State, Bangui (Bangui Accords)

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Country/entity: Central African Republic
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Declaration of Heads of State, Bangui (Bangui Accords)
Date: 25 Jan 1997
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Interstate/intrastate conflict(s)
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
Peace process: CAR: Bangui process
Parties: Parties – For the delegation of heads of African States: His Excellency El Hadj Omar BONGO. For the Central African Republic: His Excellency Mr Felix-Ange PATASSE. For the French Republic: His Excellency Mr Jean-Marc SIMON, Ambassador and Senior Representative.
Third parties: -
Description: Short statement expressing thanks to International Monitoring Committee and the UNDP for providing assistance to the Committee.

Agreement document: CF_970125_DeclarationIssuedByHeadsofState.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: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
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: No specific mention.
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: Page 1, DECLARATION ISSUED BY HEADS OF STATE
...
Take note of the Preliminary Agreement on a National Reconciliation Pact, which is the outcome of a broad consultation of those representing the vital forces of the Central African nation, thereby embodying the solemn commitment of the political parties, the trade union federations and the civil society to respect the constitutional legal order and to lend full support to all initiatives to promote dialogue and national reconciliation
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: Governance→Constitution→Constitution affirmation/renewal
Page 1, DECLARATION ISSUED BY HEADS OF STATE
...
Take note of the Preliminary Agreement on a National Reconciliation Pact, which is the outcome of a broad consultation of those representing the vital forces of the Central African nation, thereby embodying the solemn commitment of the political parties, the trade union federations and the civil society to respect the constitutional legal order and to lend full support to all initiatives to promote dialogue and national reconciliation.

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: No specific mention.
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: 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: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: No specific mention.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
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: No specific mention.
Ceasefire: No specific mention.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: Page 1, DECLARATION ISSUED BY HEADS OF STATE
...
Take note further of the cessation of the rebellious action involving some Army elements, which have agreed to place themselves at the disposal of the authorities of the Central African Army and to settle all future differences and disagreements by some means other than the use of weapons;
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: Page 1, DECLARATION ISSUED BY HEADS OF STATE
...
Take note further of the cessation of the rebellious action involving some Army elements, which have agreed to place themselves at the disposal of the authorities of the Central African Army and to settle all future differences and disagreements by some means other than the use of weapons;
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, DECLARATION ISSUED BY HEADS OF STATE
...
Take note of the Preliminary Agreement on a National Reconciliation Pact, which is the outcome of a broad consultation of those representing the vital forces of the Central African nation, thereby embodying the solemn commitment of the political parties, the trade union federations and the civil society to respect the constitutional legal order and to lend full support to all initiatives to promote dialogue and national reconciliation

Implementation

UN signatory: UNDP thanked for assistance to Intl Monitoring Committee
Other international signatory: Parties – For the delegation of heads of African States: His Excellency El Hadj Omar BONGO. For the Central African Republic: His Excellency Mr Felix-Ange PATASSE. For the French Republic: His Excellency Mr Jean-Marc SIMON, Ambassador and Senior Representative.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: Page 1, DECLARATION ISSUED BY HEADS OF STATE
...
Commend the International Monitoring Committee for the successful performance of its task;
...
Undertake to pursue our efforts to restore and strengthen peace in the Central African Republic by maintaining the International Monitoring Committee and by helping to set up as promptly as possible the inter-African force to monitor security and peace.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: UN Peacemaker. Available at: https://peacemaker.un.org/carbanguiaccords97 (Accessed 6 October 2020).

Declaration issued by heads of State

We,

His Excellency El Hadj Omar Bongo, President of the Gabonese Republic, representing the heads of

State designated by the Nineteenth Summit Meeting of Heads of State and Government of France and

Africa to help find a solution to the Central African crisis, and

His Excellency Mr. Ange-Félix Patasse, President of the Central African Republic,

Meeting in Bangui today, 25 January 1997, and, with reference to the mandate entrusted to the

International Monitoring Committee, having taken note with appreciation of the various reports on

the work of the Committee, which is chaired by Army General Amadou Toumani Touré, former head of

State of Mali,

Take note of the Preliminary Agreement on a National Reconciliation Pact, which is the outcome of a

broad consultation of those representing the vital forces of the Central African nation, thereby

embodying the solemn commitment of the political parties, the trade union federations and the civil

society to respect the constitutional legal order and to lend full support to all initiatives to

promote dialogue and national reconciliation;

Take note further of the cessation of the rebellious action involving some Army elements, which

have agreed to place themselves at the disposal of the authorities of the Central African Army and

to settle all future differences and disagreements by some means other than the use of weapons;

Commend the International Monitoring Committee for the successful performance of its task;

Commend the Central African people for the courage, wisdom and patriotism displayed throughout this

crisis;

Undertake to pursue our efforts to restore and strengthen peace in the Central African Republic by

maintaining the International Monitoring Committee and by helping to set up as promptly as possible

the inter-African force to monitor security and peace.

Thank the United Nations for the assistance provided through the United

Nations Development Programme to the International Monitoring Committee and

invite it to continue such assistance until a lasting peace returns to the

Central African Republic.

Done at Bangui, on 25 January 1997.

Signatories

For the delegation of heads of African States:

(Signed) His Excellency El Hadj Omar BONGO

For the Central African Republic:

(Signed) His Excellency Mr. Félix-Ange PATASSE

For the French Republic:

(Signed) His Excellency Mr. Jean-Marc SIMON

Ambassador and Senior Representative