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CAR in critical phase of transition: UN official

Iran Press TV

Wed Dec 10, 2014 11:56AM GMT

The head of the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations has said that the Central African Republic (CAR) is in a "critical phase" of its political transition.

Herve LadLadsous made the remarks before the UN Security Council on Tuesday, adding that the CAR is approaching the critical stage as key issues of the bloody conflict in the country are addressed within a tight deadline.

Ladsous said that matters such as disarmament, security sector reform, reintegration of armed groups, as well as the status of refugees and internally displaced people in the Central African Republic require to be dealt with during the transitional period that is due to end in August.

"Risks remain high that additional disruptions to the political process and to the security situation could put the transitional process in jeopardy," said the UN peacekeeping official.

"Any further delays beyond August 2015 could undermine the transition itself," he said.

Ladsous noted that the political process is "once again moving forward" as stakeholders worked to convene the peace-building Bangui Forum in early 2015, and to complete the election process by next August.

Voicing a degree of optimism, he further explained that while the timeframe for elections remained "extremely tight" and preparations for the polling process were proceeding slowly, various leaders of the two hostile factions had already publicly expressed their support for the national dialogue process, including participation in the Bangui Forum.

The CAR descended into chaos last year, when armed Christian groups launched coordinated attacks against the Seleka group, which had toppled the government last March.

Over 187,000 people fled the CAR to neighboring African states last year, bringing the total number of refugees and those displaced internally to more than 850,000, the UN refugee agency has said.

In December 2013, France deployed forces to the CAR, a former French colony, after the UN Security Council adopted a resolution giving the African Union and France the go-ahead to send troops to the country.

In March 2014, UN Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos said almost all of more than 100,000 Muslims once residing in the capital had fled the violence perpetrated by the armed Christians.

In February, Amnesty International said a campaign of "ethnic cleansing" is underway against Muslim civilians in the Central African Republic despite the presence of thousands of foreign troops in the country.

MFB/HJL/HRB