Ban welcomes Central African peace accord between rebels and Government

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed a peace agreement signed by the Government of the Central African Republic (CAR) and two rebel groups after talks facilitated by the Gabonese President El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba.

In a statement released by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban said he hoped that the agreement would enable the Central African authorities “to convene, without further delay, the inclusive political dialogue needed to allow the country to embark on a path to sustainable peace, stability and development.”

Some 200,000 people have been displaced by ongoing fighting in the country, including clashes between the Government and the two rebel groups, the Union des Forces Démocratiques pour l’Unité (UFDR) and the Armée Populaire pour la Restauration de la Démocratie (APRD).

The Secretary-General urged all signatories of the agreement to scrupulously respect its provisions and he called on all other political-military groups in the country to join it.

Mr. Ban also called on the international community to continue to provide assistance to the country to sustain its recovery.