Country/entity

Central African Republic

Region

Africa (excl MENA)

Agreement name

Good neighborliness and Community Reconciliation Agreement between the Communities of Castors, Yakite, Sara, Yalowa, Camerounais Douala, and Sanga-Bibale

Date

23 Mar 2019

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.

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Central African Republic Conflicts (1996 - )

Stage

Framework/substantive - partial

Conflict nature

Inter-group

Peace process

CAR: Local Processes

Parties

MAIN ACTOR FOR PEACE. YAKITE BRIDGE Moussa Danda

MAIN ACTOR FOR PEACE. CASTORS Nathael Wandessere

YAKITE YOUTH REPRESENTATIVE Abdrahman Ibrahim

CASTOR YOUTH REPRESENTATIVE Fabrice Dekoua

YAKITE WOMEN REPRESENTATIVE Oumoul Hair Abdouahman

CASTOR WOMEN REPRESENTATIVE Alphonsine Lakoue

YAKITE RELIGIOUS LEADER Imam Oumar Sarako

CASTOR RELIGIOUS LEADER Abbe Julien Mokasse

Third parties

WITNESSES

TOWN HALL 3rd ARRONDISSEMENT Yakite Sosthene

MINUSCA Kenny Gluck

MINISTRY OF HUMANITARIAN ACTION AND NATIONAL RECONCILIATION Balkoua Virginie

LOCAL PEACE AND RECONCILIATION COMMITTEE 3rd DISTRICT OF BANGUI [illegible]

Description

This is a local agreement, covering the communities of Castors, Yakite, Sara, Yalowa, Camerounais Douala, and Sanga-Bibale, in which the communities' representatives, alongside women's groups, youth groups, and religious leaders, all supported by MINUSCA and the central government, commit to to peaceful reconciliation, focusing on the resumption of markets and trading activities, demilitarization, and mobility in the area.,

Agreement document

CF_190323_Yakite Castors agreement_tr.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Agreement document (original language)

CF_190323_Yakite Castors agreement.pdf (opens in new tab)| Download PDF

Local agreement properties

Process type

Informal but persistent process

Rationale

This is one in a series of local agreements in CAR, facilitated by MINUSCA. The practice is persistent, though the agreements themselves are not negotiated for the same locale nor by the same parties.

Is there a documented link to a national peace process?

Yes

Link to national process: articulated rationale

The agreement is linked to the national process as it refers to the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic, and relies on the government and MINUSCA to facilitate the implementation of the local agreement as part of their broader work.

Name of Locale

Bangui, 3rd Arrondissement

Nature of Locale

Smaller

GPS Lat/Long (DD)

4.372768, 18.546422

Participant type

Central state actor
Local state actor
International or transnational actor
Domestic religious organisation/leader or other elder
Local community/civilian group(s)/civil society organisations

Mediator, facilitator or similar

Mediator or similar referred to

Mediator (references)

The agreement consistently refers to the central role of MINUSCA in the negotiations and in supporting implementation.

Type of mediator/facilitator/similar

International or transnational actor

Local issues

Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture)

No specific mention.

Grievance List

Page 1:
Considering the security incidents, criminal activities, inter-communal violence, and the erosion of social cohesion, which affect all inhabitants of the Castors, Yakite, Bloc Sara, Yalowa, Camerounais Douala, and Sanga-Bibale neighborhoods of the 3rd district of Bangui.



Considering the negative impact of violence on the humanitarian, social, and economic situation of  said neighborhoods, and in particular, the loss of human life and property

Cattle rustling/banditry

No specific mention.

Social cover

No specific mention.

GOOD NEIGHBORLINESS AND COMMUNITY RECONCILIATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COMMUNITIES OF CASTORS, YAKITE, SARA, YALOWA,

CAMEROUNAIS DOUALA, AND SANGA-BIBALE

Considering the security incidents, criminal activities, inter-communal violence, and the erosion of social cohesion, which affect all inhabitants of the Castors, Yakite, Bloc Sara, Yalowa, Camerounais Douala, and Sanga-Bibale neighborhoods of the 3rd district of Bangui.

Considering the negative impact of violence on the humanitarian, social, and economic situation of said neighborhoods, and in particular, the loss of human life and property

Considering the positive effects of a return to peace in said neighborhoods, such as the restoration of trust between the communities as well as economic and socio-cultural development.

Considering the conclusion dated February 6 of the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic, which expressed the commitment at a national and international level of the Government and the fourteen armed groups to highlight the mutual feelings of the Central African people in general and the communities targeted by this agreement, in particular, to further develop cohabitation - without which all efforts to restore social cohesion would be in vain.

The communities of said neighborhoods (Muslims and Christians) commit to:

Facilitating the end of hostilities between the communities of said neighborhoods.

The communities undertake to renounce violence and to be part of a dynamic of peace.

Conflict resolution will be done peacefully, through dialogue, conviviality, and good neighborliness.

Prohibiting the carrying and use of weapons in neighborhoods by the civilian population.

The carrying and use of weapons of all categories by civilians constitutes a threat to the population and a contributing factor to violence.

It harms security and increases fear and tensions.

Facilitating the free movement of people and goods.

Free movement is beneficial to the entire population, it helps to rebuild relationships and trade between communities.

Free movement also makes it possible to guarantee free access to health establishments, schools, and State institutions.

Deploying awareness campaigns within the two communities on the importance of peace and cohabitation.

Working with international and national organizations to improve the living conditions of all communities concerned, in particular:

rehabilitation of the Castor Youth Center, rehabilitation of the Common Room and its sewing materials for training young girls, as well as equipment for training young people of both genders in different fields (agriculture, breeding, entrepreneurship, etc.),

particularly unemployed young people.

Facilitating the safe return of displaced people from the sectors affected by the latest crises, as well as assisting them in rebuilding their destroyed homes.

The Monitoring Committee of this agreement will take responsibility for managing disputes that may arise between returnees and illegal occupants of their homes.

From the date of signature of the Agreement, the communities are required to respect the end of hostilities and aggression, the carrying and use of arms, and embracing the free movement of people and goods.

After the signing of the Agreement, a Monitoring Committee will be set up to ensure the proper functioning and respect of the commitments made by the communities.

This Committee will work in close collaboration with the Government of the CAR, MINUSCA, and the relevant international and national organizations.

The Committee may set up, if necessary, an Agreement Implementation Mechanism, including a Guiding and Coordination Committee.

The communities concerned ask MINUSCA to support them with the facilitation of the community reconciliation process that has already begun, to support this process of cohabitation, and to support the Monitoring Committee.

The Communities strongly hope that the Government, with the support of MINUSCA:

1.

Ensure the strict application of the Good Neighborliness Agreement between the neighborhoods concerned, 2.

Facilitate the return of displaced persons from areas affected by the latest crises and support them in the reconstruction of their destroyed homes, 3.

Support other development partners to mobilize the additional resources needed to ensure the success of this Agreement.

Done in Bangui, 03/23/2019

SIGNATORIES

MAIN ACTOR FOR PEACE.

YAKITE BRIDGE

MAIN ACTOR FOR PEACE.

CASTORS

YAKITE YOUTH REPRESENTATIVE

CASTOR YOUTH REPRESENTATIVE

YAKITE WOMEN REPRESENTATIVE

CASTOR WOMEN REPRESENTATIVE

YAKITE RELIGIOUS LEADER

CASTOR RELIGIOUS LEADER

WITNESSES

TOWN HALL 3rd ARRONDISSEMENT

MINUSCA

MINISTRY OF HUMANITARIAN ACTION AND NATIONAL RECONCILIATION

LOCAL PEACE AND RECONCILIATION COMMITTEE 3rd DISTRICT OF BANGUI