Several anti-Balaka and ex-Séleka armed groups unite in a joint statement dated Wednesday, December 16, to terminate the Khartoum agreement, which they said was insufficiently implemented. They threaten to use “all means” if the government does not agree to organize talks on this subject before the organization of the presidential and legislative elections, scheduled for December 27. In question: the inability of the Central African government, according to them, to apply the agreement signed in February 2019 and intended to bring peace to the country.
With our special correspondent in Bangui, Florence morice
The two-page press release is initialed by six leaders of armed groups or their representatives. Among the most influential signatories to the Khartoum Agreement: UPC, MPC, FPRC, 3R and two anti-Balaka groups. On Thursday night, half confirmed to RFI that the document was genuine, signed on Wednesday, December 16 in Kamba Kota, in Ouham Prefecture, northwest of the country.
The authors condemn the government’s “inability” to enforce Khartoum Agreement… as they themselves are regularly accused of rape. They place Banguiface’s power as an alternative: assume either to hold a “broad national consultation” before conducting elections, or to continue to “manipulate”, they say, the organization of the vote in view of an election “pause” and expose themselves to these armed groups with “all other coercive methods” to win the case.
The UN is worried about possible disruptions during the election
This threatening explanation comes as for several days, major troop movements have been reported in the northwestern country. Minusca (UN multidimensional integrated stabilization mission in the Central African Republic) has strengthened its control barriers and its patrols there, particularly on the Bossangoa Bangui axis. The UN has repeatedly expressed concern in recent days about the risk of armed groups disrupting the electoral process and has called on political actors, including former President François Bozizé, to refrain from any attempt to ally with them.
Several sources, security and within armed groups report the presence of validated candidate François Bozizé during the signing of this text, which denies his spokesman Christian Guénbem. On the contrary, he ensures that the former head of state engages in a “political dynamic”, as evidenced by him according to the alliance created at the same time on Wednesday between his party, the KNK, andAnicet Georges Dologuélé for the presidential election.
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