Declaration on the End of the Rebellious Action, Bangui (Bangui Accords)

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Country/entity: Central African Republic
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Declaration on the End of the Rebellious Action, Bangui (Bangui Accords)
Date: 25 Jan 1997
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: Implementation/renegotiation
Conflict nature: Government
Peace process: CAR: Bangui process
Parties: For the International Monitoring
(Signed) Amadou Toumani TOURE

For the Officers:
Committee:
(Signed) Anicet SAULET
Chairman Captain
Third parties: -
Description: An agreement of 'Officers' and the International Monitoring Committee established by the Heads of State, to take into account the general report and recommendations adopted by the 'Committee on Conssensus-building and Dialogue on 18 January 1997 in Bangui.

Agreement document: CF_970125_DeclarationOnTheEndoftheRebelliousAction.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: Page 1, DECLARATION ON THE END OF REBELLIOUS ACTION
Concerned about strengthening the democratic process and the rule of law and about ensuring respect for human rights, safeguarding Central African democratic gains and preserving peace and national unity

Page 1, WE DECLARE AS FOLLOWS
...
3. We request a halt to all forms of constraint on collective and individual freedoms, including searches of persons and of premises and arrests.
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: Page 1, DECLARATION ON THE END OF REBELLIOUS ACTION
Concerned about strengthening the democratic process and the rule of law and about ensuring respect for human rights, safeguarding Central African democratic gains and preserving peace and national unity

Page 1, WE DECLARE AS FOLLOWS
...
2. Pending the implementation of the recommendations of the Committee on Consensus-building and Dialogue, the purpose of which is to strengthen the current democratic process in our country, we affirm that the rebellious action triggered on 15 November 1996 is ended as from today.
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: Security sector→Ceasefire→General commitments
Page 1, WE DECLARE AS FOLLOWS
...
2. Pending the implementation of the recommendations of the Committee on Consensus-building and Dialogue, the purpose of which is to strengthen the current democratic process in our country, we affirm that the rebellious action triggered on 15 November 1996 is ended as from today.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: No specific mention.
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: Page 2, WE DECLARE AS FOLLOWS
...
4. We request the release of all persons apprehended in the course of the rebellious action.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: Page 2, WE DECLARE AS FOLLOWS
...
5. We request that a monument to the memory of civilian and military victims of the three rebellions be built in Bangui.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: Transitional justice→Reparations→Symbolic reparations
Page 2, WE DECLARE AS FOLLOWS
...
5. We request that a monument to the memory of civilian and military victims of the three rebellions be built in Bangui.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: For the International Monitoring
(Signed) Amadou Toumani TOURE
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism: aPage 1, UNTITLED PREAMBLE
...
Bearing in mind that, in the wake of this mission, the International Monitoring Committee was established to implement the measures contained in the final communiqué of 8 December 1996 and to find a peaceful and lasting solution to the Central African crisis, and noting the encouraging results achieved

Page 2, WE DECLARE AS FOLLOWS
6. We request that the International Monitoring Committee be maintained in order to ensure full compliance with the recommendations resulting from the work of the Committee on Consensus-building and Dialogue and the Declaration prior to the agreement to end the rebellion adopted on 24 January 1997 in Bangui.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: UN Peacemaker. Available at: https://peacemaker.un.org/carbanguiaccords97 (Accessed 6 October 2020).

Declaration on the end of the rebellious action

Bearing in mind that the Nineteenth Summit Meeting of Heads of State and

Government of France and Africa, held at Ouagadougou from 4 to 6 December 1996, decided to send to

Bangui a mediation mission consisting of Their Excellencies El Hadj Omar Bongo of Gabon, Mr. Blaise

Compaoré of Burkina Faso,

Mr. Idriss Deby of Chad and Mr. Alpha-Oumar Konaré of Mali;

Bearing in mind that, in the wake of this mission, the International Monitoring Committee was

established to implement the measures contained in the final communiqué of 8 December 1996 and to

find a peaceful and lasting solution to the Central African crisis, and noting the encouraging

results achieved;

Bearing in mind the address of the President of the Republic on

31 December 1996 announcing a number of measures to relax tension and issuing an appeal to rally

the nation;

Concerned about strengthening the democratic process and the rule of law and about ensuring respect

for human rights, safeguarding Central African democratic gains and preserving peace and national

unity;

Taking into account the recommendations adopted by the General Meeting on National Defence on 9

September 1996 in Bangui;

Taking into account the general report and recommendations adopted by the Committee on

Consensus-building and Dialogue on 18 January 1997 in Bangui;

Taking into account the Declaration prior to the agreement to end the rebellion adopted on 24

January 1997 in Bangui;

Determined, in the best interests of the Central African nation and the African continent, to

employ dialogue and concerted efforts as the means to avert any return to armed confrontation;

We declare as follows:

1. We take note of the conclusions of the work of the Committee on Consensus- building and

Dialogue, meeting from 11 to 18 January 1997 in Bangui, and we undertake to respect the provisions

that concern us.

2. Pending the implementation of the recommendations of the Committee on Consensus-building and

Dialogue, the purpose of which is to strengthen the current democratic process in our country, we

affirm that the rebellious action triggered on 15 November 1996 is ended as from today.

3. We request a halt to all forms of constraint on collective and individual freedoms, including

searches of persons and of premises and arrests.

4. We request the release of all persons apprehended in the course of the rebellious action.

5. We request that a monument to the memory of civilian and military victims of the three

rebellions be built in Bangui.

6. We request that the International Monitoring Committee be maintained in order to ensure full

compliance with the recommendations resulting from the work of the Committee on Consensus-building

and Dialogue and the Declaration prior to the agreement to end the rebellion adopted on 24 January

1997 in Bangui.

7. We request all the parties to settle all future differences and disagreements by some means

other than the use of weapons.

8. We urge the public authorities to take into account the safeguards enumerated in the

Declaration prior to the agreement to end the rebellion.

The present Declaration is being drawn up with the International Monitoring Committee as witness,

under the auspices of His Excellency El Hadj Omar Bongo, President of the Gabonese Republic, head

of the delegation of heads of State designated by the Nineteenth Summit Meeting of France and

Africa.

Done at Bangui, on 25 January 1997.

For the International Monitoring For the Officers:

Committee:

(Signed) Amadou Toumani TOURE (Signed) Anicet SAULET Chairman

Captain