MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the Central African Republic
6.10.2015 - (2015/2874(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 135 of the Rules of Procedure
Marielle de Sarnez, Petras Auštrevičius, Beatriz Becerra Basterrechea, Izaskun Bilbao Barandica, Dita Charanzová, Juan Carlos Girauta Vidal, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Urmas Paet, Frédérique Ries, Maite Pagazaurtundúa Ruiz, Marietje Schaake, Pavel Telička, Ramon Tremosa i Balcells, Ivo Vajgl, Filiz Hyusmenova, Nathalie Griesbeck, Nedzhmi Ali, Philippe De Backer, Gérard Deprez, Fredrick Federley, Ivan Jakovčić, Petr Ježek, Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, Louis Michel, Javier Nart, Jozo Radoš, Johannes Cornelis van Baalen, Hilde Vautmans, Cecilia Wikström, Marian Harkin, Valentinas Mazuronis on behalf of the ALDE Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-1000/2015
The European Parliament,
- having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in Central African Republic,
- having regard to article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) ratified by the Central African Republic in 1981,
- having regard to the UN Millennium Declaration of 8 September 2000,
- having regard to the Constitution of the Central African Republic,
- having regard to the LISBON 2007 Joint Africa-EU Strategy,
- having regard to the Press Statement by the spokesperson of the EU on violence in the Central African Republic on 28th September 2015,
- having regard to the Cotonou Partnership Agreement signed in June 2000,
- having regard to the Press Statement by the UN Security Council on 28th September 2015
- having regard to the African Charter of Human and Peoples' Rights of June 1981, ratified by Central African Republic in April 1986,
- having regard to UN Security Council Resolutions 2088 (2013) of 24 January 2013, 2121 (2013) of 10 October 2013, 2127 (2013) of 5 December 2013, 2134 (2014) of 28 January 2014, 2149 (2014) of 10 April 2014, 2181 (2014) of 21 October 2014, 2196 (2015) of 22 January 2015, 2212 (2015) of 26 March 2015 and 2217 (2015) of 28 April 2015,
- having regard to the Brazzaville Ceasefire Agreement in July 2014,
- having regard to the Universal Declaration on Human Rights of December 1948,
- having regard to the resolution of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly of 19 June 2013 and 17 June 2015 on the CAR,
- having regard to the Libreville (Gabon) Agreement of 11 January 2013 on the resolution of the politico-military crisis in the Central African Republic,
- having regard to the high-Level International conference on the Central African Republic, entitled ‘From humanitarian aid to resilience’, held in Brussels on 26 May 2015,
- having regard to the disarmament, demobilization, repatriation and reintegration (DDRR) agreement signed on 10 May 2015 by a large number of the armed groups during the Bangui Forum,
- having regard to the final report of the International Commission of Inquiry on the Central African Republic of 19 December 2014,
- having regard to Rules 135 of its Rules of Procedure,
A. Whereas the Central African Republic has been in the grip of political instability for several years, plunged into chaos and violence; whereas thousands of civilians have been killed and thousands of others forcibly displaced;
B. Whereas the new wave of violence of those last days starting on 26th September in the Central African Republic capital of Bangui, between rival militias over ethnical and religious reasons, has led to dozens of civilians dead and at least 100 injured including teenagers and children aged from 7 to 17 years old; Whereas this new wave of violence highlights the fragility of the reconciliation process and the urgent need for enhanced protection of civilians, disarmament and an end to impunity;
C. Whereas UNHCR, with the International Organization for Migration and other partners, now estimates that at least 27,400 people have been displaced within the capital including 10,000 who are sheltering at the Mpoko site near the airport, which was already hosting about 11,000 people,
D. whereas around 60 inmates broke out of a jail in the western market town of Bouar on 29th September 2015 after the escape of more than 500 prisoners — including some who had been involved in armed violence and some known perpetrators of human rights violations and abuses, which pose a serious threat to civilians and the protection of victims and witnesses and beyond, to the overall security situation;
E. Whereas the United Nations peacekeeping force present in the country (about 13,000 troops) has been struggling to keep up with its mission, whereas the International Organization for Migration reported recent cases of lootings by a mob in its offices in Bangui, and that American Marines were deployed to rescue two of the organization’s employees in a neighborhood that rioters were approaching, whereas several offices and residences of other relief organizations have been looted and their freedom of movement impeded, especially health workers in hospitals;
F. Whereas MINUSCA is conducting patrols around critical areas, with the view of protecting civilians;
G. Whereas humanitarian aid is made difficult because of the fighting and numerous roadblocks, impeding the ability of the authorities to gain access to thousands of internally displaced people and assess needs; whereas the concerns about safe access to Bangui’s neighbourhoods have been echoed by Médecins sans Frontières (MSF), which said wounded people had been arriving on foot in many cases and the group’s ambulances have been unable to circulate as the capital has become too dangerous;
H. Whereas even before the violence broke out, the Central African Republic was tense ahead of the presidential elections to replace interim leader Catherine Samba-Panza; whereas experts and observers had warned that the country was unprepared for the upcoming election;
I. Whereas on 4th October 2015, Central Africans were to decide in a referendum on adopting a new constitution and elect their representatives in stride during presidential and legislative elections originally scheduled for October 18th first round and 22nd November for the second; whereas the transition authorities have been working for a few weeks to a postponement of the polls, but the National Elections Agency (NSA) has still not announced a new schedule, the voter lists are not established and electoral cards, not distributed;
J. Whereas Samba-Panza confirmed she was appealing to donors and supporters to allow the new leaders who will be democratically elected to have the means to set out their policy until the programs are set up for the Central African Republic, according to the BBC, the President requires about $3 million (£1.98 million) more funding to cover the cost of the upcoming elections;
1. Strongly condemns the violent clashes between the Seleka and the "anti-Balaka" in the Central African Republic and expresses its deep concern over the situation which is characterized by a complete breakdown of law and order and the absence of the rule of law; condemns the recent violence, which has further eroded even the most basic services in the country and exacerbated an already dire humanitarian situation affecting the entire population and also poses a significant threat to regional security;
2. Underlines the importance of enhanced efforts to build trust and ensure peaceful co-existence between religious communities in the country; urges all parties in presence to fully respect the commitments taken following the forum of Bangui.
3. Urgently calls on the Central African Republic Government to bring an immediate end to the sudden eruption of violence in the country and urges the country’s leaders and partners in the sub-region to work closely with the UN to prevent the violence from derailing the political process and to ensure that the transition is concluded in a timely manner, in order to chart a sustainable path to peace;
4. Reiterates the fact the Transitional Government authorities must work closely with MINUSCA, Sangaris and other international forces to urgently stop what appears to be a deliberate attempt to derail the current peace process and important progress made in the last 18 months,
5. Is deeply concerned over the escape of more than 500 prisoners from the Ngaragba prison in Bangui and the ensuing elevated threat to civilians and the security situation, and urgently calls on the authorities to do their utmost to immediately apprehend these individuals;
6. Reiterates its full support of the EU to pursue its humanitarian efforts, both inside the Country and in neighbouring countries which have taken in very large numbers of Central African refugees;
7. Reaffirms its support to the UN, to the MINUSCA peacekeeping and the French SANGARIS military contingent; Ahead of elections to take place by the end of the year, Strongly condemns any attempt to deter ongoing efforts towards stability;
8. Highlights the fact that disarmament is a vital part of efforts to end crimes under international law; demands that all militias and non-state armed groups lay down their arms and weapons and cease all forms of violence and destabilizing activities immediately; therefore welcomes the creation on 3rd of June of the special criminal court;
9. recalls that the transitional period will come to an end on 30 December 2015, urges the national authorities with the support of the MINUSCA and the Sangaris forces to bring back the calm in the country and more particularly in Bangui in order to maintain the electoral calendar in the best way possible;
10. urges the international community to offer complete support to the centrafrican authorities to organise the elections as planned despite the difficulties encountered on the ground regarding, it is of outmost importance to support the political process in CAR at this critical time;
11. Underlines that the transition authorities, the Minusca, and CAR's international partners, in particular France, must do everything to prevent the Central African Republic from falling back into chaos;
12. Urges the United Nations Security Council and Central African Republic authorities together with the EU and the African Union to ensure that all peacekeepers present in CAR at the moment honor their renewed mandate in line with the High level meeting on CAR organized on 1st of October in New-York;
13. Welcomes the active participation of France and in particular its close collaboration with MINUSCA and all other African troops present in the Central African Republic; is concerned, at the same time, that although 13,000 peacekeepers have been deployed in the Central African Republic, the country inevitably fell into lawlessness; calls for the urgent need to restructure and equip the Central African armed forces, the gendarmerie and the police.
14. Welcomes the EU's increased support for addressing the humanitarian crisis in the Central African Republic, and calls for the EU and its Member States, as leading donors to the country, to enhance their coordination with the other donors ad international institutions in order to adequately meet the urgent humanitarian needs and alleviate the suffering of the people of the central African Republic;
15. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the African Union, ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly and the Central African Republic Government.