Mandate established by the Countries designated by the 19th Summit of France and Africa, for the inter-African Supervision Mission for the Bangui Agreements

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Country/entity: Central African Republic
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Mandate established by the Countries designated by the 19th Summit of France and Africa, for the inter-African Supervision Mission for the Bangui Agreements
Date: 6 Mar 1997
Agreement status: Unilateral document
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: Implementation/renegotiation
Conflict nature: Government
Peace process: CAR: Bangui process
Parties: (Signed) 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
Third parties: -
Description: Mandate for inter-African force for peace and security to monitor implementation of the Bangui Agreement (Jan 25, 1997), disarm rebels, (art. 4) to consist of initially men [sic] from Burkina Faso, Chad, Gabon, Mali, Senegal and Togo, (art.5) with French logistical command unit, (art. 11) France to provide logistical and financial support. With Appendix: Status of the Inter-African Mission to Monitor the Implementation of the Bangui Agreements. Put in place by Gabonese representative, in response to previous meetings of Heads of States.

Agreement document: CF_970306_MandateoftheInter-AfricanForce.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: 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: 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: Page 2, Article 4
The force shall be composed initially of 600 men from the following six countries: Burkina Faso, Chad, Gabon, Mali, Senegal and Togo.
It shall be structured as an operational staff headquarters composed of the following offices:
...
- A legal adviser for, inter alia, coordinating provostal and judicial action;
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: Page 3, Article 11
Logistical and financial support for the force shall be provided by France and/or other contributors of funds
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, Article 2
The objective of MISAB is to help restore peace and security by monitoring the implementation of the agreements signed on 25 January 1997 in Bangui.
Ceasefire: No specific mention.
Police: Page 2, Article 4
The force shall be composed initially of 600 men from the following six countries: Burkina Faso, Chad, Gabon, Mali, Senegal and Togo.
It shall be structured as an operational staff headquarters composed of the following offices:
...
- A military police force;
Armed forces: Page 2, Article 4
The force shall be composed initially of 600 men from the following six countries: Burkina Faso, Chad, Gabon, Mali, Senegal and Togo.
It shall be structured as an operational staff headquarters composed of the following offices:
...
- A military police force;

Page 3, Article 10
The participating countries undertake to provide the necessary troops for the accomplishment of the mission.
DDR: Security sector→DDR→Demilitarisation provisions
Page 1, Article 3
In order to attain this objective, MISAB shall conduct operations to disarm the ex-rebels, the militia and all other unlawfully armed individuals.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: Page 1, Article 3
In order to attain this objective, MISAB shall conduct operations to disarm the ex-rebels, the militia and all other unlawfully armed individuals.
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: (Signed) 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
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: [The whole agreement deals with the establishment of an Inter-African force to monitor the implementation of the Bangui Agreements and its modalities]

Page 2, Article 8
The initial duration of the mandate shall be three months as from
31 January 1997. It may be renewed at the request of the President of the Central African Republic.
Enforcement mechanism: Article 12
The Commander of the force shall make an interim report to the President of
the International Committee, who shall bring the report to the attention of
President El Hadj Omar Bongo.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: UN Peacemaker. Available at: https://peacemaker.un.org/carinterafricanforce97 (Accessed 6 October 2020).

Mandate of the Inter-African force to monitor the implementation of the Bangui Agreements

Recalling the decision of the heads of State and Government of France and Africa meeting in Ouagadougou from 4 to 6 December 1996,

Considering the declaration issued by the heads of State in Bangui on 25 January 1997,

Taking into account the Charter of the Organization of African Unity and the various decisions and resolutions concerning the settlement of disputes, including the resolution establishing the central organ of the Organization of African States for the prevention, management and settlement of disputes,

Bearing in mind letters No.

009/97 and No.

010/97 of 7 January 1997 from the President of the Central African Republic requesting that an inter-African force be established in the Central African Republic,

I, 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 peaceful solution to the Central Africa crisis, at the request of President Ange-Félix Patasse of the Central African Republic,

Hereby establish the terms of the mandate of the inter-African force for security and peace.

Article 1

A neutral inter-African force, to be known as the Inter-African Mission to Monitor the Implementation of the Bangui Agreements (MISAB), is hereby established.

Article 2

The objective of MISAB is to help restore peace and security by monitoring the implementation of the agreements signed on 25 January 1997 in Bangui.

Article 3

In order to attain this objective, MISAB shall conduct operations to disarm the ex-rebels, the militia and all other unlawfully armed individuals.

Article 4

The force shall be composed initially of 600 men from the following six countries:

Burkina Faso, Chad, Gabon, Mali, Senegal and Togo.

It shall be structured as an operational staff headquarters composed of the following offices:

- A personnel management and administration office;

- An information gathering and processing office;

- An office for the planning and conduct of operations;

- An office of infrastructure resources management;

- A legal and civilian affairs office;

- A military police force;

- A legal adviser for, inter alia, coordinating provostal and judicial action;

- A liaison office with the Central African authorities and other parties concerned.

The work of the various offices shall be coordinated by a superior officer, deputy to the Commander of the force and Chief of Staff.

Article 5

The force shall be provided with a French logistical command unit.

Article 6

MISAB shall be placed under the political authority of President El Hadj Omar Bongo.

General Amadou Toumani Touré, in his capacity as Chairman of the International Monitoring Committee to supervise the implementation of the Bangui Agreements, shall have such authority delegated to him.

Article 7

The conditions of stay and deployment of MISAB shall be established by the status-of-forces agreement.

Article 8

The initial duration of the mandate shall be three months as from

31 January 1997.

It may be renewed at the request of the President of the Central African Republic.

Article 9

The force shall be commanded by an officer appointed by

President El Hadj Omar Bongo, representing the heads of State designated by the

Summit Meeting of Heads of State and Government of France and Africa.

Article 10

The participating countries undertake to provide the necessary troops for the accomplishment of the mission.

Article 11

Logistical and financial support for the force shall be provided by France and/or other contributors of funds.

Article 12

The Commander of the force shall make an interim report to the President of the International Committee, who shall bring the report to the attention of President El Hadj Omar Bongo.

Bangui, 6 March 1997.

(Signed) 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