Accord de cessez-le-feu entre le Gouvernement de la République Centrafricaine et la Coalition Seleka

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Country/entity: Central African Republic
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Accord de cessez-le-feu entre le Gouvernement de la République Centrafricaine et la Coalition Seleka
Date: 11 Jan 2013
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: Ceasefire/related
Conflict nature: Government
Peace process: CAR: coups and rebellions process
Parties: For the CAR Government
- Jean WILLYBIRO SAKO

For the SELEKA Coalition
- Michel DJOTODJIA

For CEEAC
- Nassour GUELENGDOUKSIA OUAIDOU, Secretary General of CEEAC

For the President of the Monitoring Committee
- Basile IKOUEBE, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Cooperation of the Republic of Congo
Third parties: -
Description: This agreement provides for an immediate ceasefire and a cessation of all hostilities between the Central African Republic’s government and the SELEKA coalition within 72 hours. Issues covered include the abstention from media campaigns and aggressions against civilians. The agreement also contains provisions on humanitarian assistance, displaced persons, political prisoners, DDR and the establishment of an oversight commission, supervising the implementation of the ceasefire agreement.

Agreement document: CF_130111_AccordDeCessezleFeu_tr.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF
Agreement document (original language): CF_130111_AccordDeCessezLeFeu.pdf (opens in new tab)| Download PDF

Main category: Page 1, PREAMBLE
...
Considering the ongoing desire of His Excellency (Army) General François BOZIZE YANGOUVOUNDA, President of the Republic, Head of State, reiterated in his speech to the nation of December 2012, to promote tolerance, dialogue and reconciliation among all the sons and daughters of Central Africa;

Page 2, Article 1
The belligerent parties must observe an immediate ceasefire, and end all hostilities within 72 hours of signing the Ceasefire Agreement. The ceasefire entails:
...
- The immediate cessation of all acts of violence against the civilian population, and the protection of human rights. These acts of violence include summary executions, torture, harassment, the detention and execution of civilians on grounds of ethnicity, as well as the recruitment of child soldiers, sexual violence, arming the civilian population, and the detention and execution of prisoners.

Page 2, Article 5
A priority programme must be established immediately in the following order:
...
2. Protection of human rights, including the release of all detained persons, cessation of sexual violence and the conscription of child soldiers;

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: Violence against women→Sexual violence
Page 2, Article 1: ...The ceasefire entails:
...the cessation of all acts of violence against the civilian populations and the respect and protection of human rights. These acts of violence include summary executions, torture, harassment, the detention and execution of civilians on the basis of their ethnic origin, as well as the recruitment of child soldiers, sexual violence, the arming of civilians, and the detention and execution of prisoners.

Page 3, Article 5: A priority programme must be established urgently according to the following timetable:
... 2. Protection of human rights including the release of all arrested persons, and a stop to sexual violence and the recruitment of child soldiers.
Transitional justice: No specific mention.
Institutional reform: No specific mention.
Development: No specific mention.
Implementation: No specific mention.
Other: Page 2, Preamble:...:...Recognising the abiding will of His Excellency, Army General Francois Bozize Yangouvounda, President of the Republic, Head of State, reiterated in his speech to the nation on 31 December 2012, to promote tolerance, dialogue and reconciliation between all the daughters and all the sons of Central Africa...

PEACE AGREEMENT

between

The Government of the Central African Republic

and

The SELEKA Coalition (UFDR, CPJP, CPSK, UFR)

Preamble

Considering the relevant provisions of the United Nations Charter, the Constitutional Act of the African Union and the Protocol of the Central African Peace and Security Council (COPAX);

Considering the national resolutions relating to the peaceful resolution of conflicts, notably the Global Peace Agreement of Libreville of June 2, 2008, the recommendations of the Bangui Inclusive Political Dialogue of December 20, 2008, and the Code of Good Conduct;

Conscious of the need for dialogue to establish a durable peace and security throughout the national territory, an essential condition for national reconstruction and democracy building;

Considering the ongoing desire of His Excellency (Army) General François BOZIZE YANGOUVOUNDA, President of the Republic, Head of State, reiterated in his speech to the nation of December 2012, to promote tolerance, dialogue and reconciliation among all the sons and daughters of Central Africa;

Considering the wish of the SELEKA coalition to restore democracy, to participate in negotiations, and to sign a Ceasefire and Withdrawal Agreement with the Central African Government;

Responding to the International Mediation of Their Excellencies Mr Idriss DEBY ITNO, President of the Republic of Chad, current President of CEEAC and Mr Denis SASSOU-N’GUESSO, President of the Republic of Congo and President of the Monitoring Committee established by the Special Summit of Heads of State and the Government of Central Africa on December 21, 2012 in N’djamena, Republic of Chad, on the security situation in the Central African Republic;

The Government of the Central African Republic and the SELEKA Coalition agree the following:

Article 1:

The belligerent parties must observe an immediate ceasefire, and end all hostilities within 72 hours of signing the Ceasefire Agreement.

The ceasefire entails:

The immediate termination of and abstention from all media campaigns which may hinder efforts to develop a spirit of fraternity and national harmony;

The immediate cessation of all acts of violence against the civilian population, and the protection of human rights.

These acts of violence include summary executions, torture, harassment, the detention and execution of civilians on grounds of ethnicity, as well as the recruitment of child soldiers, sexual violence, arming the civilian population, and the detention and execution of prisoners.

The Parties will communicate this cessation of hostilities via their respective chains of command, and by means of the Press, to the civilian population.

Article 2:

Upon entry into force of this agreement, the Parties will facilitate the transport of humanitarian aid by opening humanitarian aid corridors and establishing favourable conditions for the provision of emergency services to displaced persons and others in need.

The Parties undertake to release political prisoners and prisoners of war, to guarantee the effective presence of the International Committee of the Red Cross (CICR)/Croissant-Rouge (CR)) following their release, and to enable it to evacuate the injured and bury the dead.

Article 3:

The Parties undertake to withdraw all weapons and disband any existing military units and armed factions.

Article 4:

SELEKA Coalition troops must be stationed in mutually agreed locations under the supervision of MICOPAX.

Article 5:

A priority programme must be established immediately in the following order:

Creation of the conditions needed for the return, reinstallation and reinsertion of persons displaced during the conflict;

Protection of human rights, including the release of all detained persons, cessation of sexual violence and the conscription of child soldiers;

The DDR Process in the North Eastern Central African Republic to be pursued;

Reorganisation of Central African defence and security forces;

Fight against criminality

Rehabilitation of zones affected by the conflict.

Article 6:

The signatories will set up a Monitoring Commission for implementation of the present agreement constituted as follows:

For the Government:

Three (03) representatives

For Civil Society:

One (01) representative

For the SELEKA Coalition:

Three (3) representatives

For the Democratic Opposition:

One (01) representative

For the United Nations Integrated Office in the Central African Republic:

One (01) representative

For the African Union Office in the Central African Republic:

(one (01) representative

For the Mediation Office:

One (01) representative

For CEEAC;

Two (2) representatives.

The Monitoring Commission for application of the present Agreement may call upon any qualified person as needed.

Article 7:

In case of any differences in opinion or difficulties arising in implementing the present Agreement, one or other of the Parties may resort to the Monitoring Commission or the President of the Monitoring Committee for the Libreville negotiations.

Article 8:

Upon signature the present Ceasefire Agreement enters into force.

Done in Libreville, January 11, 2013