UN envoy sees real hope for peace in Central African Republic

United Nations, October 20: The top UN envoy for the Central African Republic (CAR) said Wednesday that there is real hope for peace in the country.
The calm in certain parts of the country thanks to the redeployment of national defense and security forces and the proactive preventive posture of the UN peacekeeping mission in the CAR has allowed people to move more freely and has allowed more displaced persons and refugees to return in two areas recently freed from the grip of armed groups, said Valentine Rugwabiza, the UN secretary-general's special representative and head of the UN peacekeeping mission in the CAR, known as MINUSCA.
However, the humanitarian needs in these areas remain alarming and must compel humanitarian partners to continue to mobilize. It is also important to consolidate the security and political gains. This must be done through increased commitment on the part of development partners, she told the Security Council in a briefing.
"In particular, I'm calling for partners to, once again, mobilize to ensure that efforts made to guarantee the socio-economic reintegration of former combatants and the extension of the state's authority must continue. Lasting solutions for the reintegration of these former combatants within local communities, as well as the reintegration of refugees and displaced persons are vital, and, if successful, will strengthen the new policy of decentralization, which is currently being established," she said.
Such efforts will also increase the contribution that local elections make to the democratization process, as they will allow inclusion and national reconciliation, she added.
"There is still real hope for peace in the CAR. Political efforts aimed to ensure an end to violence are vital. And efforts are also vital to optimize MINUSCA's mandate and to ensure the continuation of a republican dialogue (in the CAR)," said Rugwabiza.
All of this must be conducted with the support of the guarantors and facilitators of the CAR peace process, as well as with the continued support of regional and international partners, she said. "So we have reason to hope, and as such all parties to the conflict must ensure that a political solution to the crisis prevails. Mediation must be used as a compliment to political action. MINUSCA'S deterrent capacity is important because parties to the conflict still sometimes think that violence is a way forward."
She asked the Security Council to play its part in providing effective and continued support through a robust and flexible mandate for MINUSCA, as well as in ensuring that the mission has the resources required," she said. "The government, the sub-region, and the people depend on MINUSCA as we seek a lasting solution to the crisis in the CAR."
Rugwabiza called on the CAR government to lift restrictions on night flights, saying they are essential for the safety and security of UN peacekeepers, humanitarian actors, partners on the ground and people in need of humanitarian assistance.
Source: Yonhap