11 Jan 2013

UN / CAR

The Head of the United Nations mission in the Central African Republic (CAR) today (11 January) announced that a ceasefire agreement had been reached between the government and rebels. UNTV

Posted at: January 11, 2013 2:56 pm

Duration: 02:38

Available in: SD

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STORY: UN / CAR
TRT: 2.38
SOURCE: UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 11 JANUARY 2013, NEW YORK

SHOTLIST:

FILE – 2011, UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations headquarters

11 JANUARY 2013, NEW YORK

2. Wide shot, Security Council Chamber with Video conference screen
3. Cutaway, delegates
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Margaret Vogt, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the Central African Republic (BINUCA):
"The second agreement was the ceasefire agreement, signed by the government and Seleka, and witnessed by ECCAS and the follow-up committee. This agreement is to come into force within 72 hours upon signature. The third agreement is the political agreement on the politico-security situation in the CAR, signed by the representatives of the presidential majority, the politico-military groups, parties of the Libreville comprehensive peace agreement, the democratic opposition and Seleka."
5. Cutaway, delegates
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Margaret Vogt, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the Central African Republic (BINUCA):
"The task that this government would be expected to carry out during their one year period would be the following: to restore peace and security, to organize elections, legislative elections after an anticipated dissolution of the national Assembly, it is expected that the national Assembly will be dissolved one year into the game and new elections will be held."
7. Cutaway, delegates
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Margaret Vogt, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the Central African Republic (BINUCA):
"It is also envisaged that in this arrangement that neither the Prime Minister or the President or members of his cabinet can run in the next election. Neither the Prime Minister, nor the President would be eligible to take part in the next Presidential election."
9. Cutaway, delegates 
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Margaret Vogt, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the Central African Republic (BINUCA):
"We are hopeful that the agreements that have been signed today in Libreville will contain the immediate flair-up and will calm the situation in the CAR, and enable us to recalibrate the disarmament process. However, failure to go further to discuss the reasons for the lack of implementation of previous agreements and to correct these may lead to another melt down, a few years down the line again, as a result of the lots expectations and frustration."
11. Cutaway, delegates
12. Wide shot, Security Council Chamber with Video screen

STORYLINE:

The Head of the United Nations mission in the Central African Republic (CAR) today (11 January) announced that a ceasefire agreement had been reached between the government and rebels.

Briefing the members of the Security Council in New York via video, Margaret Vogt said that the CAR's government and rebels during a summit of heads of state of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS)  today in Libreville, Gabon. .

In separate agreements the two sides made a declaration of principles to resolve the political and security crisis in the CAR and to stop hostilities. The accords were signed by the government and   Seleka rebels, and witnessed by ECCAS.

Vogt pointed out that the ceasefire agreement was to come into force "within 72 hours upon signature".

The missions head also said that a third accord was the political agreement on the politico-security situation in the CAR.

While noting that a government of national unity with representatives of all stakeholders that took part in the talks would be established, Vogt stressed that the task that that government would be expected to carry out during their one year period would be "to restore peace and security, to organize elections, legislative elections after an anticipated dissolution of the national Assembly, it is expected that the national Assembly will be dissolved one year into the game and new elections will be held".

She said that "Neither the Prime Minister, nor the President would be eligible to take part in the next Presidential election".

Vogt expressed her hope that the signed agreements would "contain the immediate flair-up and will calm the situation in the CAR, and enable us to recalibrate the disarmament process". However, she pointed out that "failure to go further to discuss the reasons for the lack of implementation of previous agreements and to correct these may lead to another melt down, a few years down the line again, as a result of the lots expectations and frustration".

CAR has a history of political instability and recurring armed conflict. State authority is weak in many parts of the country, which are largely controlled by rebel groups and criminal armed groups, according to the UN Department of Political Affairs (DPA). 
Coupled with ethnic tensions in the north, frequent armed incursions by rebel elements from neighbouring countries and the presence of members of the armed Ugandan group known as the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), have added to insecurity and instability in CAR, which also has 170,000 people displaced internally, the UN said.

Filed under CENTRAL AFRICA CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC.