By Haider Rizvi
UNITED NATIONS, Dec 4 2008 (IPS)

Despite intense international efforts to resolve the years-long armed political conflict between the government and rebel groups, prospects for peace in the Central African Republic remain as elusive as ever.

“The overall political security and socio-economic situation in the Central African Republic remains fragile,” said U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. In his recent 13-page report submitted to the Security Council, the U.N. chief noted that, despite getting involved in a dialogue for peace, both the government and rebel elements continue to commit human rights violations

“It is an area of immediate and continuing concern,” Ban said.

The Central African Republic gained independence from French colonial rule in 1960. It has faced political instability, coupled with a vicious cycle of violence, since 1965.

The current conflict mainly involves the government of President Gen. Francois Bozize and the Armee Populaire Pour la Restauration de le Democratie (APRD), although a number of other rebel groups are also important actors in the ongoing struggle for power.

The U.N. Peacebuilding Commission, established in December 2005 to help countries deal with post-conflict situations, is trying to bring all the warring parties together in the Central African Republic.

Currently, the major sticking point for the negotiations is the rebel’s groups’ demand that the government adopt a general amnesty law covering alleged offenses committed by all signatories of the peace agreements, including their accomplices.

Last month, Bozize signed a decree, expanding to include opposition and rebel movements, the membership of the Dialogue Organising Committee, an entity established in June to work on practical engagements for the dialogue.

The government and the opposition are now set to hold another round of negotiations starting Friday. U.N. officials say the names of “four eminent” figures have been submitted to President Omar Bongo of Gabon, in his capacity as mediator for the peace process.

In a bid to create a more conducive political milieu, recently the government released as many as 12 rebel leaders and activists in compliance with the Amnesty Law. Officials say this gesture was welcomed by the president of APRD and rebels leaders.

However, Ban remains worried about the outcome of negotiations. “It remains a matter of increasing concern to me that, despite progress made towards the holding of the dialogue, new rebel groups have emerged and consider themselves as being left out of the peace process,” he said.

The new groups, according to U.N. officials, have repeatedly carried out attacks against forces in the unstable northern areas, and may pose a new threat to peace and stability even after the negotiations are over.

The U.N. has allocated about 10 million dollars for its peace-building and development-related efforts in the Central African Republic, which is considered one of the most impoverished nations on the African continent.

According to the secretary-general’s report, due to the ongoing armed political conflict between the security forces and rebel groups, 100,000 people have been driven from their homes.

U.N. officials involved in aid and humanitarian activities say they are having trouble in reaching out to the “internally displaced” due to violence by the warring parties in several parts of the country.

Last week, in voicing its concern about the continued violence, the U.N. children’s agency UNICEF said security in the northern part of the country has started to worsen, with fresh fighting between the government forces and rebels.

The agency warned that the number of internally displaced people could swell even higher because of violence and that it might be unable to meet the needs of the sick and the hungry population in the north.

“[We] hope the ongoing political dialogue will pave the way for peace and recovery,” said UNICEF spokesperson Mahimbo Mdoe in a statement. “But right now the country is on the edge.”

Aid workers note the peace dialogue had brought many positive changes in the lives of women and children who suffered from the conflict, but that situation may not last long.

“More fighting can only undermine this progress,” said Mdoe. “It is time for the international community to pressure all the parties to show restraint.”

Though critical of the rebels’ behaviour, the U.N. chief, for his part, put special emphasis on the role of the government leadership in the upcoming talks.

“It is critical that the authorities maintain proactive engagement during the ongoing process of developing an integrated peace-building strategy and make all efforts to ensure political stability,” Ban said.

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