The government of the Central African Republic and 13 of the 14 armed groups in the country on Monday signed an accord aimed at ending an ethnic and religious conflict.
The announcement in Rome followed negotiations between Central African Republic’s nascent government and 13 of the 14 armed groups currently active in the country where more than 500,000 people are internally displaced. The clashes have also killed thousands of people.
A Rome-based Catholic organization, the Sant’Egidio Community, mediated the deal.
The accord has been hailed by negotiators as an important step, although governments in Central African Republic over the past decade have signed scores of deals with various rebel groups only to see them fall apart.
“For us this has been a crucial agreement for the reconciling future of the country, for a future of peace in Central African Republic,” said Charles Armel Doubane, the country’s foreign minister and one of the signatories of the accord.
Susan Mwongeli reports.
