Rebel Leaders In CAR Should Be Coaxed Back to the Negotiating Table
blurb:isstoday:190808car
19 August 2008: Rebel Leaders In CAR Should Be Coaxed Back to the Negotiating Table
The Central African Republic (CAR) has experienced a series of political crises since independence that has threatened not only its national stability but also affected stability in the region. Since 2003 armed movements, operating mostly in the north of the country, have been involved in a rebellion against the central government, based on claims around safety and access to resources for a part of the population.
In June 2008, an agreement was signed between the opposition, rebel groups and the government to bring an end to this cycle of violence and to start an inclusive political dialogue. This agreement was considered to mark the end of the rebellion. With the assistance of EUFOR, it also stemmed the violence in the country, particularly in the north. Earlier this month, however, the opposition and major rebel movements pulled out of the dialogue. This withdrawal was because of disagreements with the proposed amnesty laws tabled by the government in parliament. The rebels also disputed the composition of the group organizing the inclusive dialogue. This has resulted in a security vacuum that was brought to the attention of the relevant regional organisations. They in turn asked the leadership in the region to mediate.
Almost simultaneously, clashes in the north between the APRD (L’armée populaire pour la restauration de la démocratie) and a faction of the army cast a shadow over the peace process. Two different processes are in fact occurring at the same time on a political level and on the ground - the former signaling a movement towards peace and the latter indicating how far the groups are from actually participating in the dialogue.
Following a visit by Gabonese president Omar Bongo, who had assisted in brokering the initial peace deal and a delegation from the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC), the government assured the public that the inclusive dialogue will take place and all opposition and rebel leaders will participate. This statement, though creating some sense of optimism that peace is possible in the CAR, nevertheless raises several questions. Firstly, how can the government reasonably expect to convince the rebel leaders to come together for the talks given that a number of the parties withdrew from the dialogue on the grounds that the committee organising the event was not selected through consensus as initially agreed? As such this indicates a poor foundation for the actual talks. Secondly, what form of security will the government provide to these opposition and rebel leaders to encourage them to participate in the dialogue? It is somewhat ironic that the government is accusing rebel leaders of pulling out of the talks to escape prosecution. Will it provide amnesty that will protect them from prosecution, both nationally and by the International Criminal Court (ICC)? This is particularly important given the recent indictments directed at the former Congolese rebel leader Jean Pierre Bemba and President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan.
Despite the welcome assurances that have been provided by the government, there is a need for the government of the CAR and the relevant regional institutions to act upon these issues. Not only should the question of amnesty be dealt with efficiently but there is also a need to establish a lasting foundation to the expected inclusive dialogue - a foundation that would mirror the outcome of the dialogue. Also, there is a need to begin with a DDRR (Disarmament, Demobilisation, Reintegration and Rehabilitation) programme alongside negotiations and talks for the political advances to have an impact on the ground as well. Only then can the security of the people of the CAR be ensured.
Nadia Ahmadou, African Security Analysis Programme, ISS Tshwane (Pretoria)
