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| UNSC President Mohammed Loulichki briefs press in NY [PHOTO: UNifeed] |
New York: The UN Security Council has demanded that armed groups in
the Central African Republic (CAR) immediately cease hostilities, following
attacks on several towns in recent days, and called on all parties to seek a
peaceful solution to the current crisis.
In a press statement read out by
Security Council President Mohammed Loulichki, the 15-member body condemned
"the continued attacks on several towns perpetrated by the Seleka
coalition of armed groups which gravely undermine the Libreville Comprehensive
Peace Agreement and threaten the civilian population as well as the stability
of the Central African Republic."
The 2008 Libreville Agreement helped bring a degree of
stability to CAR, which has a history of political instability and recurring
armed conflict. Earlier this week, rebels reportedly captured the northern city
of Bambari as well as the area around Bria.
The statement added that the armed groups must
"immediately cease hostilities, withdraw from captured cities and cease any
further advance towards the city of Bangui," referring to the capital of
CAR.
It called on all parties "to refrain from any acts of
violence against civilians and to respect human rights and emphasize that those
responsible for violations should be held accountable" and "to seek a
peaceful solution by engaging constructively in an appropriate political
dialogue."
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday condemned the
rebel attacks and urged all parties to abide by the decisions of the Summit of
the Heads of State of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS),
held in the Chadian capital of N'Djamena on 21 December, which provide a basis
for a peaceful resolution of the dispute.
Ban's Special Representative and Head of the UN Integrated
Peace building Office in the CAR (BINUCA), Margaret Vogt, continues to engage
the Government and the rebel leaders with a view to ensuring a ceasefire and
initiating dialogue.
Meanwhile, the UN is temporarily relocating dependents and
non-essential staff amid the latest violence. -UNifeed