Peace Agreements Database

Country/entity

Central African Republic

Region

Africa (excl MENA)

Agreement name

Accord de cessez-le-feu entre le Gouvernement de la République Centrafricaine et la Coalition Seleka

Date

11/01/2013

Agreement status

Multiparty signed/agreed

Interim arrangement

No

Agreement/conflict level

Intrastate/intrastate conflict (Central African Republic Conflicts (1996 - )

The Central African Republic conflict is one of a set of regionally connected conflicts addressed by the African Great Lakes process. After the country gained independence from France in 1960 it has been ruled by a sequence of autocratic leaders that principally gained power through coups. Since the mid-1990s several waves of internal conflict took place in the Central African Republic, primarily along tribal, and later-on increasingly sectarian, lines. In 1996 and 1997, French troops and soldiers from neighbouring countries intervened to end a mutiny in the capital, Bangui, by factions of the army. The fighting was predominantly along tribal lines, with southern tribes in revolt against the ‘northern’ government. A UN mission was installed in 1998 to secure the truce.
After General Bozizé took control of the country after several coup attempts in 2003, a ‘bush war’ began led by armed opposition forces. From late 2006 onward, government troops with French military support severely weakened the rebels. Following this, a number of agreements were signed during 2007-2008, but not all factions have accepted them. In 2011, Bozizé was re-elected in supposedly fraudulent elections, which resulted in a new wave of uprisings. Séléka, an alliance of northern rebel groups, took over parts of the country and forced Bozizé to agree to a power-sharing deal. However, after this agreement broke down, Séléka took control of Bangui and Bozizé had to flee the country in 2013. Leader of Séléka, Michel Djotodia, took office and officially disbanded Séléka. However, continual violence between ex-Séléka groups and opposing militias, collectively known as ‘anti-balaka’, persisted and Djotodia was forced to resign less than a year later. Catherine Samba-Panza was installed as interim president until Faustin Archange Touadéra was elected in January 2016. In February 2019 an agreement was signed between the government and fourteen armed groups, including ex-Seleka groups, committed to disarmament. However, violence between ex-Seleka groups and anti-balaka continues.

Central African Republic Conflicts (1996 - ) )

Stage

Ceasefire/related (Ceasefire)

Conflict nature

Government

Peace process

14: CAR: coups and rebellions process

Does this need new name?

Parties

For the CAR Government
- Jean WILLYBIRO SAKO

For the SELEKA Coalition
- Michel DJOTODJIA

For CEEAC
- Nassour GUELENGDOUKSIA OUAIDOU, Secretary General of CEEAC

For the President of the Monitoring Committee
- Basile IKOUEBE, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Cooperation of the Republic of Congo

Third parties

Description

This agreement provides for an immediate ceasefire and a cessation of all hostilities between the Central African Republic’s government and the SELEKA coalition within 72 hours. Issues covered include the abstention from media campaigns and aggressions against civilians. The agreement also contains provisions on humanitarian assistance, displaced persons, political prisoners, DDR and the establishment of an oversight commission, supervising the implementation of the ceasefire agreement.

Agreement document

CF_130111_AccordDeCessezleFeu_tr.pdf []

Agreement document (original language)

CF_130111_AccordDeCessezLeFeu.pdf []

Main category

Page 1, PREAMBLE
...
Considering the ongoing desire of His Excellency (Army) General François BOZIZE YANGOUVOUNDA, President of the Republic, Head of State, reiterated in his speech to the nation of December 2012, to promote tolerance, dialogue and reconciliation among all the sons and daughters of Central Africa;

Page 2, Article 1
The belligerent parties must observe an immediate ceasefire, and end all hostilities within 72 hours of signing the Ceasefire Agreement. The ceasefire entails:
...
- The immediate cessation of all acts of violence against the civilian population, and the protection of human rights. These acts of violence include summary executions, torture, harassment, the detention and execution of civilians on grounds of ethnicity, as well as the recruitment of child soldiers, sexual violence, arming the civilian population, and the detention and execution of prisoners.

Page 2, Article 5
A priority programme must be established immediately in the following order:
...
2. Protection of human rights, including the release of all detained persons, cessation of sexual violence and the conscription of child soldiers;

Women, girls and gender

Participation

No specific mention.

Equality

No specific mention.

Particular groups of women

No specific mention.

International law

No specific mention.

New institutions

No specific mention.

Violence against women

Sexual violence

Page 2, Article 1: ...The ceasefire entails:
...the cessation of all acts of violence against the civilian populations and the respect and protection of human rights. These acts of violence include summary executions, torture, harassment, the detention and execution of civilians on the basis of their ethnic origin, as well as the recruitment of child soldiers, sexual violence, the arming of civilians, and the detention and execution of prisoners.

Page 3, Article 5: A priority programme must be established urgently according to the following timetable:
... 2. Protection of human rights including the release of all arrested persons, and a stop to sexual violence and the recruitment of child soldiers.

Transitional justice

No specific mention.

Institutional reform

No specific mention.

Development

No specific mention.

Implementation

No specific mention.

Other

Page 2, Preamble:...:...Recognising the abiding will of His Excellency, Army General Francois Bozize Yangouvounda, President of the Republic, Head of State, reiterated in his speech to the nation on 31 December 2012, to promote tolerance, dialogue and reconciliation between all the daughters and all the sons of Central Africa...