22 March 2013 – United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and members of the Security Council, expressing strong concern over reports of armed groups advancing toward Bangui, capital of the Central African Republic (CAR), today urged all parties in the troubled country to immediately cease hostilities.
The 15 Council members “condemned all attempts to undermine
the stability of the Central African Republic,” according to a statement issued
to the press.
Fighting flared up again in CAR in December 2012 when the
Séléka rebel coalition launched a series of attacks. The fighters took control
of major towns and were advancing on Bangui, before agreeing to start peace
talks under the auspices of the regional group known as the Economic Community
of Central African States (ECCAS).
A peace agreement was reached on 11 January in Libreville,
Gabon, resulting in a ceasefire agreement and creating a government of national
unity in which opposition figures were given key posts, but the rebels claim
the Government is failing to live up to its commitments. The rebels have
resumed their attacks, and have overrun a wide swathe of the country's
territory.
In today’s statement, the Council recalled its statement of
20 March stressing the need for all parties to the 11 January agreements to
fully implement their commitments.
The Council called on all parties to refrain from any acts
of violence against civilians, allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access,
and to fully respect human rights and international humanitarian law, he added.
“Those responsible for violations and abuses of
international humanitarian and human rights law, including those involving
violence against civilians, torture, summary executions, sexual and gender
based violence and recruitment and use of children in armed conflict, must be
held accountable,” it stated.
Council members recalled that such violations of
international humanitarian law may amount to crimes under the Rome Statute of
the International Criminal Court (ICC),
to which CAR is a State party.
In a statement issued
by his spokesperson, urging the Séléka movement to immediately halt its
military offensive and all parties to abide by the 11 January Agreements, the
Secretary-General pledged the UN’s continued support to action by ECCAS and others
to ensure that the parties resolve the current crisis peacefully.
“The Secretary-General reiterates his firm conviction that
resorting to violence and military means will only lead to more suffering and
instability and will further complicate efforts to reach a political solution,”
the spokesperson said.
“He intends to talk to regional leaders to urge them to do
all they can to stop the fighting and commit the parties to implement the
Libreville Agreements without further delay,” he added.
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