Central African Republic
ICGLR Appeals For Dialogue To Improve Political & Security Situation In CAR
The International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) made an appeal to the politicians and civil society groups in the Central Africa Republic (CAR) to overcome differences through dialogue, reported CGTN Africa.
The ICGLR made the appeal at a mini-summit that was held in Luanda, capital of Angola, to discuss the political and security situation in the CAR. Leaders of the member countries attended the mini-summit.
During the summit, Angolan President Joao Lourenco, who is the acting chair of the ICGLR, said the member countries must assume a constructive and influential role with the living forces of the CAR and get them prepared for a dialogue with the legitimate government of the country.
The ICGLR is an inter-governmental organization of African countries in the African Great Lakes Region. The association was created with the aim of resolving peace and security issues following the political conflicts that marked the region in 1994.
Lourenco said the current situation leaves the CAR government in a position of great fragility, as the rebel forces are now in a position to easily acquire weapons of all calibers and firepower.
He said the plan to achieve peace and security in the CAR would be initiated in close cooperation with the African Union and the United Nations.
“We want a Great Lakes sub-region free of unnecessary armed conflict, death, destruction, and forced displacement of its populations,” Lourenco said.
There has been tension in the CAR since the presidential elections were held on Dec. 27, 2020. Earlier this month, the authorities announced President Faustin-Archange Touadera as the winner of the election with 53.92 percent of the vote. But the opposition demanded that the Constitutional Court reject the voting result, claiming massive fraud and low voter turnout.
The Constitutional Court of the Central African Republic also confirmed the re-election of President Touadera for his second term, with 53.16 percent of the vote.
