Communique of the 375th PSC meeting on the situation in Central African Republic (CAR)

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, May 14, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The Peace and Security of the African Union (AU), at its 375th meeting, held on 10 May 2013, adopted the following decision on the situation in Central African Republic (CAR):

Council,

1. Takes note of the briefing made by the Commissioner for Peace and Security on the situation in the Central African Republic (CAR), as well as of the statements made by the representatives of South Africa, Rwanda, France, United Nations and United States of America;

2. Reiterates its previous communiqués and press statements on the CAR, and welcomes the conclusions of the 4th Extraordinary Summit of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), held in Ndjamena, on 18 April 2013. Council also welcomes the follow-up by the Commission and the efforts made to facilitate a coordinated international response to the situation in the CAR;

3. Commends the convening in Brazzaville, on 3 May 2013, under the auspices of the AU Commission and ECCAS, of the inaugural meeting of the International Contact Group on the CAR (ICG-CAR). Council encourages President Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Republic of Congo, Chair of the ECCAS Follow-up Committee on the CAR, to pursue his efforts towards the implementation of the Transition Roadmap;

4. Reiterates its grave concern about the precarious security and humanitarian situation, especially the repeated attacks against the civilian population and the risk that this situation poses to the cohesion of the CAR people and their unity, as well as to the long-term stability of the country. Council requests the acceleration of the implementation of the measures envisaged for the cantonment of the Seleka elements, as well as the reconstitution of a core police and gendarmerie force to maintain law and order and contribute to the protection of civilians;

5. Welcomes the dispatch of a Military Assessment Mission, led by the AU and including representatives of ECCAS, the United Nations and the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), in order to assess MICOPAX needs, in accordance with the request made by the ECCAS Heads of State and Government at their 4th Extraordinary Summit. Council looks forward to the recommendations that would be submitted to it by the Commission;

6. Requests the Commission to consult with all concerned parties on the possibility for the contingent of the Regional Cooperation Initiative for the Elimination of the Lord's Resistance Army (RCI-LRA), stationed in the eastern part of the CAR, contributing to the protection of the civilian population in its area of ??operations and within its capacities. Council also urges the other member states in a position to do so to support, through troop contributions, in-kind and financial resources, MICOPAX efforts. Council takes note of the appeal made on 8 May 2013 by the Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity of the Transition, calling upon the Government of the French Republic to extend the mandate of its military contingent deployed in Bangui to cover tasks relating to the maintenance of law and order and security in the capital and its suburbs, support the said appeal, and requests the Commission to ensure the necessary follow-up for the operationalization of the envisaged security arrangements as soon as possible;

7. Reiterates its appeal to the UN Security Council, as contained in its previous communiqués and press statements, to fully support the African-led efforts. In particular, Council requests the Security Council to seize the opportunity of its meeting on the situation in the CAR, scheduled on 15 May 2013, to support the above-mentioned measures, in order to restore security in the CAR and guarantee the protection of civilians, as well as the execution of all the necessary tasks for the restoration of constitutional order;

8. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.