Country/entity

Central African Republic

Region

Africa (excl MENA)

Agreement name

National Reconciliation Pact (Bangui National Reconciliation Conference)

Date

5 Mar 1998

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.

Close

Central African Republic Conflicts (1996 - )

Stage

Framework/substantive - partial

Conflict nature

Government

Peace process

CAR: Bangui process

Parties

His Excellency Ange-Félix PATASSÉ
President of the Republic
Government
National Assembly
Judiciary
Armed Forces of the Central African Republic
Association of Mayor
Political parties
ADP Alliance pour la démocratie et le progrès
CDCAD Carrefour démocratique centrafricain pour le
développement
CN Convention nationale
ELAN Effort libéral en Afrique noire
FC Forum Civique
FPP Front patriotique pour le progrès
GILA-MND Mouvement national pour le développement
MDD Mouvement pour la démocratie et le développement
MLPC Mouvement de libération du peuple centrafricain
MSCA Mouvement socialiste centrafricain
PAD Parti pour l'action et le développement
PARELI Parti républicain libéral
PCD Parti chrétien démocrate
PLD Parti libéral démocrate
PRC Parti républicain centrafricain
PSD Parti social démocrate
MDI/PS Mouvement pour la démocratie, l'indépendance et le
progrès social
MESAN Mouvement d'évolution sociale de l'Afrique noire
MESAN BOGANDA Mouvement d'évolution sociale de l'Afrique
noire/Barthélemy Boganda
MDRC Mouvement pour la démocratie en république
centrafricaine
MNR Mouvement national pour le renouveau
MUD Mouvement pour l'unité et le développement
RDC Rassemblement démocratique centrafricaine
UDRP Union pour la démocratie et le renouveau panafricain
UDR/FK Union démocratique républicaine/Fimi Kodro
UNDD Union nationale pour la défense de la démocratie
UPR Union pour la République
UPDES Union du peuple pour le développement économique et
sociale
Trade unions:
CNTC Confédération nationale des travailleurs centrafricains
OSLP Organisation des syndicats libres des secteurs public,
parapublic et privé
Patronat
USTC Union syndicale des travailleurs centrafricains
USCC Union syndicale des chargeurs centrafricains
UNTC Union nationale des travailleurs centrafricains
Religious denominations:
AEEC Association des églises évangéliques centrafricaines
Catholic Church
CICA Communauté islamique centrafricain
Human rights, justice and democracy:
ACAT Association centrafricaine de lutte contre la torture et
l'abolition de la peine de mort
AFJC Association des femmes juristes de Centrafrique
GERDES Groupement d'études et de recherches pour la démocratie
et le développement economique et social
LCDH Ligue centrafricaine des droits de l'homme
GRPS Groupe de réflexion politique et sociale
LONDO Levons-nous
MDDH Mouvement pour la défense des droits de l'homme
S/1998/219
English
Page 8
GAMPCC Groupe des artistes musiciens pour la promotion de la
culture en Centrafrique
OCDH Observatoire centrafricain des droits de l'homme
GRADDER Groupe de réflexion et d'action pour la défense de la
démocratie républicaine
CNDH Commission nationale des droits de l'homme
National organizations:
OFCA Organisation des femmes centrafricaines
KOLI-OUALI GALA Hommes et femmes commerçants
FNEC Fédération nationale des éleveurs centrafricains
Fed. BOUBA-NGUERE Fédération des vendeurs ambulants
JEC Jeunesse étudiante chrétiennes
FESCA Fédération du Scoutisme centrafricain
USCA Union scolaire centrafricaine
CNOSCA Comité national olympique du sport centrafricain
ACCB Association des commerçants centrafricains du bétail
ANEC Association nationale des étudiants centrafricains
ONAPHA Organisation nationale des personnes handicapées
UMCA Union des musiciens centrafricains
AVIMUT Association des victimes des mutineries
CIONGCA Conseil inter-organisation non gouvernementale de
Centrafrique
ANBC Association nationale des bouchers centrafricains
FNCJ Fédération nationale des clubs des jeunesses
Occupational organization:
UNPC Union nationale du patronat centrafricain

Third parties

-

Description

Largely rhetorical declaration involving principled commitments. Involves a large number of civil and political groups in the country, committing to democracy, reconciliation, and addressing poverty.

Agreement document

CF_980305_NationalReconciliationPact.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Main category

Page 6, Signatory parties
....
OFCA Organisation des femmes centrafricaines
KOLI-OUALI GALA Hommes et femmes commerçants

Women, girls and gender

Participation

No specific mention.

Equality

No specific mention.

Particular groups of women

No specific mention.

International law

No specific mention.

New institutions

No specific mention.

Violence against women

No specific mention.

Transitional justice

No specific mention.

Institutional reform

No specific mention.

Development

No specific mention.

Implementation

Implementation→Signing or witnessing agreement

Page 6, Signatory parties
....
OFCA Organisation des femmes centrafricaines
KOLI-OUALI GALA Hommes et femmes commerçants

Other

No specific mention.

NATIONAL RECONCILIATION PACT

National Reconciliation Conference, held in Bangui from 26 February to 5 March 1998

The parties signatory to this Pact:

In view of the Constitution of 14 January 1995,

Noting the grave political and military crisis which shook the Central African Republic in 1996 and

1997,

Recognizing that this crisis nearly engulfed the entire country in chaos, which would have entailed

incalculable consequences for the preservation of national unity and sovereignty,

Aware of the fact that the meeting on consensus-building and dialogue held in Bangui from 11 to 18

January 1997 rekindled the hopes of Central Africans that solutions to this crisis would be found,

Convinced of the commitment of the signatories to respect the conclusions of the Bangui Agreements

and to strive to restore a genuine, lasting peace,

Gauging the seriousness of the socio-economic crisis, characterized by growing poverty, the

breakdown of family and social ties, the decline in Central African purchasing power and food

production and the emergence of famine and widespread malnutrition, which are sources of

disturbances and social conflict,

Considering the upsurge of insecurity in Bangui and in the interior, owing to the proliferation of

weapons and the phenomenon of highway banditry,

Convinced that only an effort by the entire national community, supported by the international

community, can make it possible to find ways and means of restoring peace and security, a sine qua

non of the effective resumption of socio-economic activities for peaceful, lasting development,

Considering the flagrant violation of human rights linked to political and military crises,

Noting the repeated violations of the commitments made by Central Africans to each other,

Convinced of the need to establish a definitive national reconciliation pact between all Central

Africans so as to put an end to political, economic and social practices characterized by nepotism,

tribalism, exclusion and poor

governance,

Aware of the need to establish a Monitoring and Arbitration Committee responsible for settling any

disputes that may arise from non-compliance with the provisions of this Pact,

In view of the relevant recommendations resulting from the work of the National Reconciliation

Conference,

Have solemnly agreed as follows:

Article 1

The parties signatory to this Pact solemnly undertake to practise good governance, excluding

nepotism, clanship, tribalism, political patronage and misappropriation of funds,

They also undertake to settle or help to settle, through dialogue and consensus-building, all

disputes that may arise.

Article 2

The signatories solemnly undertake to use elections as the only legal means of access to government

power and decide to ban the use of weapons and force as ways and means of access to government

power.

They renounce the use of the armed forces to destabilize a democratic regime and to sow

terror in the hearts of the population in defiance of democratic principles, human rights and the

national Constitution.

They strongly oppose all forms of dictatorship and call on the authorities to listen to the people

and respect the rights of the minority.

Article 3

The signatories call on all Central Africans to unite in rebuilding the country, which has been

destabilized politically and torn apart economically, culturally and socially.

Article 4

The parties signatory to this Pact undertake to launch a frontal attack on poverty, and to support

the State in its quest for ways and means of restoring a sound national economy and equitably

distributing resources, on the one hand and, on the other, in its efforts to improve the social

sectors of education and health, while giving priority attention to the regular payment of wages,

scholarships and pensions.

Article 5

The parties signatory to this Pact launch a strong appeal to the international community to assist

the national and international forces of order in their sensitive mission to collect the weapons

spread throughout the country and to restore order.

Article 6

The signatories undertake to work together to create the political, social and economic conditions

necessary to prevent any violations of human rights.

Article 7

The parties signatory to this Pact decide to establish a Monitoring and Arbitration Committee to

monitor the implementation of the undertakings set forth in this Pact and to serve as an arbitrator

in any disputes that may arise.

They undertake to have recourse to the Committee in the case of non-compliance with the provisions

of this Pact.

The composition, powers and functions of the Monitoring and Arbitration Committee are set forth as

an annex to this Pact.

Article 8

The parties signatory to this Pact undertake to respect scrupulously the provisions contained

therein.

DONE at Bangui on 5 March 1998

[Signed]

His Excellency Ange-Félix PATASSÉ President of the Republic

Government National Assembly Judiciary

Armed Forces of the Central African Republic

Association of Mayor

Political parties

ADP Alliance pour la démocratie et le progrès

CDCAD Carrefour démocratique centrafricain pour le développement

CN Convention nationale

ELAN Effort libéral en Afrique noire

FC Forum Civique

FPP Front patriotique pour le progrès

GILA-MND Mouvement national pour le développement

MDD Mouvement pour la démocratie et le développement

MLPC Mouvement de libération du peuple centrafricain

MSCA Mouvement socialiste centrafricain

PAD Parti pour l'action et le développement

PARELI Parti républicain libéral

PCD Parti chrétien démocrate

PLD Parti libéral démocrate

PRC Parti républicain centrafricain

PSD Parti social démocrate

MDI/PS Mouvement pour la démocratie, l'indépendance et le progrès social

MESAN Mouvement d'évolution sociale de l'Afrique noire MESAN BOGANDA Mouvement

d'évolution sociale de l'Afrique

noire/Barthélemy Boganda

MDRC Mouvement pour la démocratie en république centrafricaine

MNR Mouvement national pour le renouveau

MUD Mouvement pour l'unité et le développement

RDC Rassemblement démocratique centrafricaine

UDRP Union pour la démocratie et le renouveau panafricain

UDR/FK Union démocratique républicaine/Fimi Kodro

UNDD Union nationale pour la défense de la démocratie

UPR Union pour la République

UPDES Union du peuple pour le développement économique et sociale

Trade unions:

CNTC Confédération nationale des travailleurs centrafricains

OSLP Organisation des syndicats libres des secteurs public, parapublic et privé

Patronat

USTC Union syndicale des travailleurs centrafricains

USCC Union syndicale des chargeurs centrafricains

UNTC Union nationale des travailleurs centrafricains Religious denominations:

AEEC Association des églises évangéliques centrafricaines Catholic Church

CICA Communauté islamique centrafricain Human rights, justice and democracy:

ACAT Association centrafricaine de lutte contre la torture et l'abolition de la peine

de mort

AFJC Association des femmes juristes de Centrafrique

GERDES Groupement d'études et de recherches pour la démocratie et le développement

economique et social

LCDH Ligue centrafricaine des droits de l'homme

GRPS Groupe de réflexion politique et sociale

LONDO Levons-nous

MDDH Mouvement pour la défense des droits de l'homme

S/1998/219

English Page 8

GAMPCC Groupe des artistes musiciens pour la promotion de la culture en Centrafrique

OCDH Observatoire centrafricain des droits de l'homme GRADDER Groupe de

réflexion et d'action pour la défense de la

démocratie républicaine

CNDH Commission nationale des droits de l'homme National organizations:

OFCA Organisation des femmes centrafricaines KOLI-OUALI GALA Hommes et femmes

commerçants

FNEC Fédération nationale des éleveurs centrafricains Fed.

BOUBA-NGUERE Fédération

des vendeurs ambulants

JEC Jeunesse étudiante chrétiennes

FESCA Fédération du Scoutisme centrafricain

USCA Union scolaire centrafricaine

CNOSCA Comité national olympique du sport centrafricain ACCB Association

des commerçants centrafricains du bétail

ANEC Association nationale des étudiants centrafricains ONAPHA Organisation

nationale des personnes handicapées UMCA Union des musiciens centrafricains

AVIMUT Association des victimes des mutineries

CIONGCA Conseil inter-organisation non gouvernementale de Centrafrique

ANBC Association nationale des bouchers centrafricains

FNCJ Fédération nationale des clubs des jeunesses Occupational organization:

UNPC Union nationale du patronat centrafricain

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