Brazzaville Forum on CAR reconciliation and peace opens today

Stakeholders will for three days in Congo Brazzaville try to put an end to the ongoing sectarian violence and the country’s legacy of recurrent conflicts.

All is set for the forum to take off in the Congolese capital, Brazzaville, for the opening today, for a three-day conference for representatives of various sections of the Central African Republic, CAR society. Under the mediation of Congolese President, Denis Sassou N’Guessou, who was mandated last month by leaders of the sub-region, delegates will try to reach an understanding on ending the current sectarian conflict in the country to reconcile the beleaguered peoples and end years of incessant instability.

While some groups that were initially opposed to holding the talks abroad are yet to change their minds, the majority of those invited say they will be there. According to the Permanent Secretary in the Congolese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cyprien Sylvestre Mamina, measures have been taken to ensure that all participating countries and the 169 delegates from CAR arrive in time for the opening ceremony by President Sassou N’Guessou. Mamina pointed out that all CAR participants to the Forum for National Reconciliation and Political Dialogue were chosen by the country’s stakeholders themselves, while Congo is only helping to facilitate the dialogue.

The Central African Republic Transitional President, Catherine Samba-Panza was expected to arrive in Brazzaville yesterday, July 20, 2014, the country’s Ambassador to Congo, Marie Charlotte Fayanga, disclosed over the weekend.

Speaking in the CAR capital, Bangui on July 18to delegates to the conference, President Samba-Panza said the Brazzaville parley would be a first step in ending violence in the country, especially the disarmament of all armed groups.

Sub-divided into three committees, delegates handled aspects such as putting an end to fighting, disarmament and the criteria for selecting participants to the Brazzaville reconciliation and peace conference from July 21 to 23, 2014. In an appeal yesterday, Human Rights Watch, HRW, encouraged mediators and participants to the Brazzaville forum to reject any calls for amnesty for serious human rights crimes. According to HRW’s Director for Africa, Daniel Bekele, “Mediators need to make it clear that lasting peace cannot be achieved without justice and that no one is above the law.”