HIGHLIGHTS
A Pact for Peace, National Reconciliation and Reconstruction was adopted at the end of the Bangui National Forum which was held from 4-11 May. The Forum was attended by political and religious figures, armed groups, civil society members and youth groups. The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon commended the adoption of the Pact as well as an agreement signed by armed groups on the principles for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) and called for its “swift implementation”.
Notable among concluding events and statements at the Forum was the call for an “exceptional extension” of the mandate of the interim government. A recommendation to delay the country’s upcoming presidential and legislative elections, scheduled for July and August 2015, was called for, but without mentioning an alternative date. However, interim President Catherine Samba-Panza, stated that “elections should be held no later than the end of the year”.
On 14 May, more than 350 children were released from armed groups in the Central African Republic (CAR), following an agreement facilitated by the Government of CAR, UNICEF and MINUSCA. UNICEF and partners have reportedly started providing psychosocial and reintegration support as well as family reunification activities.
KEY FIGURES
426,238 IDPs including 36,927 in Bangui in 34 sites
465,168 Central African refugees in Cameroon, Chad, DRC and Congo including 220,424 New arrivals since Dec. 2013
8,103 Refugees and asylum seekers in the Central African Republic
FUNDING
USD 241 million requested for the situation
PRIORITIES
Cameroon: acceleration of assistance to refugees living offsite in villages.
Chad: profiling and verification exercise in returnee sites.
DRC: relocation of refugees to existing sites. Verification of refugees out of camps.
Congo: ensure registration and documentation of all CAR refugees.
