Rival militia factions in the Central African Republic (CAR) have finally agreed to a cease fire deal after more than two years of hostilities that has almost brought the country to its knees, judging from the nature of humanitarian disaster the country has faced.
According to the Reuters News Agency, the agreement was signed between more than ten militia groups in the presence of the country’s defense ministry in the capital of Bangui, after days of negotiation by regional leaders.
Authorities said they hope this new development will bring an end to the conflict that has led to the deaths of thousands of people and displaced nearly a million in neighboring countries.
“The fighters of all the armed groups accept and commit to putting a definitive end to the armed conflicts in Central African Republic,” the now fragile government stated.
The agreement called for the disarmament of the groups and raised the possibility of their prosecution for war crimes committed during the conflict. Another interest in the cease fire deal is the issue of using child soldiers by the militias. Officials who brokered the deal said the agreement included banning the use of children in combats forever.
“On the path towards peace, the step made today is a very important one. I want to believe that the commitment is sincere and that we will engage in the construction of progressive peace,” the top United Nations official in the country, Babacar Gaye, told reporters after the deal was reached.
In December of 2013, French troops were deployed alongside a UN-mandated European Union and an African Union peacekeeping mission to the country, after it had descended into sectarian violence between Muslims and Christians.
The Seleka, a group of mostly Muslim militia, staged a successful coup to oust a Christian-led government. They were however, forced out of power in January of 2014 in a deal brokered by the East Africa regional leaders, but the country has since been embroiled in a civil war between the Seleka and an armed coalition called the Anti-Balaka, who are Christians.
The Anti-Balaka has destroyed almost all mosques in the country and independent observers say almost all Muslims have been completely wiped out of the country. Muslim civilians are being targeted by the Christian militia. The Anti-Balaka leaders have said they are taking revenge for atrocities committed by the Seleka militia when they seized power.
In May of this year, a UN aid worker in the country revealed that French forces helping to restore law and order have been engaging in sexual abuse against children displaced by violence, seeking refuge in UN temporal camps. The issue is being investigated by UN officials.
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