Equipo Nizkor - Central African Republic: Bangui Accords.

Appendix III

Declaration issued by heads of State

We,

His Excellency El Hadj Omar Bongo, President of the Gabonese Republic, representing the heads of State designated by the Nineteenth Summit Meeting of Heads of State and Government of France and Africa to help find a solution to the Central African crisis, and

His Excellency Mr. Ange-Félix Patasse, President of the Central African Republic,

Meeting in Bangui today, 25 January 1997, and, with reference to the mandate entrusted to the International Monitoring Committee, having taken note with appreciation of the various reports on the work of the Committee, which is chaired by Army General Amadou Toumani Touré, former head of State of Mali,

Take note of the Preliminary Agreement on a National Reconciliation Pact, which is the outcome of a broad consultation of those representing the vital forces of the Central African nation, thereby embodying the solemn commitment of the political parties, the trade union federations and the civil society to respect the constitutional legal order and to lend full support to all initiatives to promote dialogue and national reconciliation;

Take note further of the cessation of the rebellious action involving some Army elements, which have agreed to place themselves at the disposal of the authorities of the Central African Army and to settle all future differences and disagreements by some means other than the use of weapons;

Commend the International Monitoring Committee for the successful performance of its task;

Commend the Central African people for the courage, wisdom and patriotism displayed throughout this crisis;

Undertake to pursue our efforts to restore and strengthen peace in the Central African Republic by maintaining the International Monitoring Committee and by helping to set up as promptly as possible the inter-African force to monitor security and peace.

Thank the United Nations for the assistance provided through the United Nations Development Programme to the International Monitoring Committee and invite it to continue such assistance until a lasting peace returns to the Central African Republic.

Done at Bangui, on 25 January 1997.

Signatories

For the delegation of heads of African States:
(Signed) His Excellency El Hadj Omar BONGO

For the Central African Republic:
(Signed) His Excellency Mr. Félix-Ange PATASSE

For the French Republic:
(Signed) His Excellency Mr. Jean-Marc SIMON
Ambassador and Senior Representative

Appendix IV

Declaration on the end of the rebellious action

Bearing in mind that the Nineteenth Summit Meeting of Heads of State and Government of France and Africa, held at Ouagadougou from 4 to 6 December 1996, decided to send to Bangui a mediation mission consisting of Their Excellencies El Hadj Omar Bongo of Gabon, Mr. Blaise Compaoré of Burkina Faso, Mr. Idriss Deby of Chad and Mr. Alpha-Oumar Konaré of Mali;

Bearing in mind that, in the wake of this mission, the International Monitoring Committee was established to implement the measures contained in the final communiqué of 8 December 1996 and to find a peaceful and lasting solution to the Central African crisis, and noting the encouraging results achieved;

Bearing in mind the address of the President of the Republic on 31 December 1996 announcing a number of measures to relax tension and issuing an appeal to rally the nation;

Concerned about strengthening the democratic process and the rule of law and about ensuring respect for human rights, safeguarding Central African democratic gains and preserving peace and national unity;

Taking into account the recommendations adopted by the General Meeting on National Defence on 9 September 1996 in Bangui;

Taking into account the general report and recommendations adopted by the Committee on Consensus-building and Dialogue on 18 January 1997 in Bangui;

Taking into account the Declaration prior to the agreement to end the rebellion adopted on 24 January 1997 in Bangui;

Determined, in the best interests of the Central African nation and the African continent, to employ dialogue and concerted efforts as the means to avert any return to armed confrontation;

We declare as follows:

1. We take note of the conclusions of the work of the Committee on Consensus-building and Dialogue, meeting from 11 to 18 January 1997 in Bangui, and we undertake to respect the provisions that concern us.

2. Pending the implementation of the recommendations of the Committee on Consensus-building and Dialogue, the purpose of which is to strengthen the current democratic process in our country, we affirm that the rebellious action triggered on 15 November 1996 is ended as from today.

3. We request a halt to all forms of constraint on collective and individual freedoms, including searches of persons and of premises and arrests.

4. We request the release of all persons apprehended in the course of the rebellious action.

5. We request that a monument to the memory of civilian and military victims of the three rebellions be built in Bangui.

6. We request that the International Monitoring Committee be maintained in order to ensure full compliance with the recommendations resulting from the work of the Committee on Consensus-building and Dialogue and the Declaration prior to the agreement to end the rebellion adopted on 24 January 1997 in Bangui.

7. We request all the parties to settle all future differences and disagreements by some means other than the use of weapons.

8. We urge the public authorities to take into account the safeguards enumerated in the Declaration prior to the agreement to end the rebellion.

The present Declaration is being drawn up with the International Monitoring Committee as witness, under the auspices of His Excellency El Hadj Omar Bongo, President of the Gabonese Republic, head of the delegation of heads of State designated by the Nineteenth Summit Meeting of France and Africa.

Done at Bangui, on 25 January 1997.

For the International Monitoring Committee: For the Officers:

(Signed) Amadou Toumani TOURE
Chairman (Signed) Anicet SAULET
Captain

25Jan97

Bangui Accords

[Source: United Nations Department of Political Affairs, New York, USA]

Peace agreements
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For the International Monitoring Committee:	For the Officers:
(Signed) Amadou Toumani TOURE Chairman	(Signed) Anicet SAULET Captain