Confidence Measures between the 6 armed Groups of Haute Kotto

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Country/entity: Central African Republic
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Confidence Measures between the 6 armed Groups of Haute Kotto
Date: 9 Apr 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.
Stage: Framework/substantive - partial
Conflict nature: Inter-group
Peace process: CAR: Local Processes
Parties: Signatory parties:
The FPRC
The RPRC
UPC
The MPC
The MLCJ
MOKOM Wing Anti Balaka
Third parties: -
Description: In this very short agreement, the six armed groups active in Haute Kotto agree to respect the Khartoum Accord, to hold a ceasefire, and to protect free movement, facilitate return of refugees, guarantee security regardless of ethnicity or religion, and to promote co-existence.

Agreement document: CF_190409_Confidence Measures between the 6 armed Groups of Haute Kotto_tr.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF
Agreement document (original language): CF_190409_Confidence Measures between the 6 armed Groups of Haute Kotto.pdf (opens in new tab)| Download PDF

Local agreement properties

Process type: Informal but persistent process
Rationale: The parties are regularly signing agreements at the local level, and this is an established, persistent practice. However, the process is not formal and structured, as the agreements are signed ad hoc.
Is there a documented link to a national peace process?: Yes
Link to national process: articulated rationale: The armed groups signing the agreement are active locally and nationally. In the document, they refer to the Khartoum Agreement (Accord) which is a national-level document, thereby forming a link to the national process.
Name of Locale: Bria, Haute Kotto
Nature of Locale: Region
GPS Lat/Long (DD): 6.530411, 21.984672
Participant type: Local armed group
Mediator, facilitator or similar: No mention of mediator or similar

Local issues

Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture): No specific mention.
Grievance List: No specific mention.
Cattle rustling/banditry: No specific mention.
Social cover: No specific mention.

CONFIDENCE MEASURES

BETWEEN THE 6 ARMED GROUPS OF HAUTE KOTTO

We, the six armed groups active in Haute Kotto agree to the following;

- To respect the Khartoum Agreement signed on February 6, 2019

- To cease hostilities;

- To respect the free movement of people and goods, humanitarian personnel and MINUSCA;

- To facilitate the return of IDPs to their respective neighborhoods.

- To ensure the protection of displaced persons and returnees;

- To guarantee the security of the population regardless of ethnicity and religion;

- To promote unity, social cohesion, and cohabitation.

Done in Bria, April 09, 2019

Signatory parties:

The FPRC

The RPRC

UPC

The MPC

The MLCJ

MOKOM Wing Anti Balaka