The Secretary-General of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), Mr. Ahmad Allam-Mi, and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA), Mr. François Louncény Fall, udnertook on a joint mission to the Central African Republic (CAR) from 15 to 17 March 2018. During this visit, they were received in audience by the Central African authorities, including the President of the Republic, His Excellency Faustin Archange Touadera, the President of the National Assembly, Honorable Abdou Karim Meckassoua, Prime Minister Simplice Mathieu Sarandji, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Charles Armel Doubane. They also had working sessions with the Panel of Facilitators of the African Initiative for Peace and Reconciliation in CAR, diplomatic corps, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in CAR and Head of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), as well as representatives of civil society and major religious leaders.

The joint visit, which ended with a joint press conference, reaffirmed the support of ECCAS and the United Nations to the African Initiative for Peace and Reconciliation in CAR and called for an immediate cessation of violence and hostilities in CAR. In this regard, the Secretary-General of ECCAS and the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Central Africa strongly condemned the continued attacks on civilian populations, humanitarian personnel and MINUSCA peacekeepers, despite ongoing efforts to bring peace and stability to the country. They urged all parties to the conflict to lay down their arms and to commit themselves in good faith to a peaceful solution to the crisis, as part of the African Initiative for Peace and Reconciliation in CAR.

The Secretary-General of ECCAS and the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Central Africa took the opportunity to congratulate the Panel of Facilitators on the progress made in the implementation of its road map. They encouraged the Panel to pursue and conclude as soon as possible discussions with all parties with a view to a rapid and definitive resolution of the crisis in CAR. They also called on the African Union, inter-governmental organizations and countries of the sub-region, as well as international partners, to provide the necessary support.

Determination to work together to contribute to the development of CAR

The Secretary General of ECCAS and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Central Africa reiterated their determination to continue to work together for the development of CAR, including through advocacy actions with regional and international partners.

In this perspective, they once again welcomed the commitments made by partners vis-à-vis CAR, notably during the donor conference held in Brussels in November 2016. They encouraged the partners to translate these commitments to help the Government of CAR to address the political, socio-economic, institutional and security challenges facing the country, and to provide basic social services to the people.

Furthermore, the Secretary General of ECCAS and the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Central Africa recalled the relevance of the Declaration on CAR adopted on 8 December 2017 at the 45th meeting of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa (UNSAC) held in Kigali, Rwanda. The Declaration stresses the need for strong involvement of regional and international partners "so that the Security Council continue lifting the arms embargo for the equipment and rearmament of the Central African Armed Forces (FACA) and encourage MINUSCA to support the restoration of State authority throughout the national territory".

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