MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in the Central African Republic
10.12.2013 - (2013/2980(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 122 of the Rules of Procedure
José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Cristian Dan Preda, Filip Kaczmarek, Mariya Gabriel, Philippe Boulland, Jean Roatta, Bernd Posselt, Tunne Kelam, Monica Luisa Macovei, Eduard Kukan, Giovanni La Via, Sergio Paolo Francesco Silvestris, Roberta Angelilli, Elena Băsescu, Petri Sarvamaa, Eija-Riitta Korhola, Sari Essayah, Michael Gahler, Jarosław Leszek Wałęsa, Anne Delvaux on behalf of the PPE Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0561/2013
B7‑0572/2013
European Parliament resolution on the situation in the Central African Republic
The European Parliament,
- having regard to its previous resolutions on the Central African Republic,
- having regard to the statements of 21 December 2012 , 1 and 11 January 2013, 25 March 2013, 21 April 2013, 27 August 2013 and 5 December 2013 by the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the Central African Republic,
- having regard to the statements of 21 December 2012 on the new outbreak of conflict in the Central African Republic and 10 September 2013 on the worsening of the crisis in Central African Republic by the EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection;
- having regards to the ACP-EU JPA resolution on CAR of 19 June 2013,
- having regard to the United Nations Security Council press statements of 27 December 2012 , 4 and 11 January 2013 on Central African Republic
- having regard to the UN Security Council Resolution 2088(2013) of 24 January 2013, the UN Security Council declarations on the CAR, and the briefing of the 14 August 2013 on CAR supporting a new African-led operation; having regard to the UN Security Council Resolutions 2121(2013) of 10 October 2013 and 2127(2013) of 5 December 2013 on Central African Republic
- having regard to the statement of the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon of 26 December 2012 condemning the rebel attacks and urging all parties to abide by the decisions taken by ECCAS on 21 December 2012 in N'Djamena, of 5 August 2013 calling for an end to impunity for serious human rights abuses in CAR, including the consideration of sanctions, as well as of 5 December 2013 expressing concern over the grave situation in Central African Republic and calling for urgent action to deploy African and French Forces;
- having regard to the statement of 16 April 2013 by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanethem Pillay, in which she called for an end to the violence and for the restoration of the rule of law in the country, as well as to her statement of 8 November 2013 condemning the massacre in Bouar and warning that a deteriorating cycle of violent attacks and reprisals in the Central African Republic risks plunging the country into a new conflict;
- having regard to the statements of the Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union, Mrs. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, of 12, 19 and 31 December 2012 on the situation in Central African Republic,
- having regard to the revised Cotonou Agreement,
- having regard to the Libreville (Gabon) Agreement of 11 January 2013 on the resolution of the politico-military crisis in the CAR, signed under the aegis of the Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), which sets out the conditions for ending the crisis in the CAR,
- having regard to the extraordinary summits of the Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), held in N’Djamena (Chad) on 21 December 2012, 3 April 2013 and 18 April 2013, and to their decisions to establish a National Transitional Council (CNT) with legislative and constituent powers and adopt a roadmap for the transition process in the CAR,
- having regard to the meeting of the International Contact Group of 3 May 2013 in Brazzaville (Republic of the Congo), which validated the roadmap for the transition and set up a Special Fund to assist the CAR,
- having regard to the declaration adopted by the International Contact Group on the CAR at its third meeting held in Bangui on 8 November 2013;
- having regard to the 1998 Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), ratified by the CAR in 2001
- having regard to the Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which has been signed by the CAR,
- having regard to Rule 122 of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas since fighting broke out in CAR at the end of 2012, and Seleka rebels seized power from former President François Bozizé in March this year, CAR has been plunged into chaos, resulting in severe food and medical shortages,
B. whereas the breakdown of public order and security in CAR is causing a humanitarian disaster and also poses a significant threat to regional security,
C. whereas the killing of civilians, the burning of houses and the destruction of basic infrastructure have forced half a million of the country’s 4.6 million population to flee,
D. whereas the use of child soldiers is rising, sexual violence is growing, and there are widespread reports of looting, illegal checkpoints, extortion, arbitrary arrests, torture and summary executions,
E. whereas the country is at risk of spiralling into genocide as the manipulation of religious affiliations for political purposes has fuelled sectarian violence between Muslims and Christians, with Seleka targeting the churches and the Christians, and the Christians creating self-defence militias (known as anti-balaka) and retaliating against the Muslims,
F. whereas although 1,300 ECCAS (Economic Community of Central African States) troops have been deployed to CAR, they have been unable to prevent the country from sliding into lawlessness,
G. whereas the African Union plans to deploy a 3,600-member peacekeeping mission which would incorporate the ECCAS regional force already on the ground, but is unlikely to be operational before 2014,
H. whereas French U.N. Ambassador Gerard Araud said the Security Council should eventually consider plans for a U.N. peacekeeping force of 8,000 to 10,000 troops,
I. whereas French diplomatic sources have said France would be ready to provide logistical support and increase its troop numbers to between 700 and 1,200 from the current contingent of 400 troops stationed in Bangui,
J. whereas the recent Emergency Food Security Assessment (EFSA) revealed that 484,000 people are at risk of food insecurity in the country,
K. whereas the UN Security Council, by its unanimously adopted resolution 2127(2013), authorized increased military action by France and African troops in order to restore security and protect civilians in the CAR, imposed an arms embargo and asked the United Nations to prepare for a possible peacekeeping mission;
L. whereas, despite the uncertain situation in Central African Republic, the EU has never suspended development cooperation with the country, and remains the biggest donor of humanitarian aid; whereas on 5 December 2013 the EU offered 50 million euro for the African-led International Support Mission in the CAR in order to contribute to the stabilization of the country and an the protection of local populations, as well as to create conditions that would allow for the provision of humanitarian assistance and the reform of security and defence sector;
M. whereas since 5 December, 400 people died in Bangui over 72 hours;
N. whereas the upsurge of violence prompted 1600 troops strong French mission Sangaris to be swiftly deployed after the approval of the UN Security Council;
O. whereas since June 2013 church leaders in CAR have been warning about the plight of Christian communities and have been appealing to the international community and all sides involved in the resolution of the crisis, to open paths to allow food and medicine to reach the exhausted people, and to restore peace and stability so that the different religious groups can continue to live alongside each other peacefully;
1. Expresses its deep concern at the new dynamic of violence and retaliation prevailing in Central African Republic that risks degenerating into an uncontrollable situation, involving most serious crimes under international law, such as war crimes and crimes against humanity; is equally concerned by the possible spill-over effect that threatens to destabilize the whole region;
2. Reiterates its deep concern over the situation in Central African Republic which is characterized by a complete breakdown of law and order, the absence of the rule of law and intersectarian violence; condemns the recent violence that has further eroded even the most basic services in the country and exacerbated an already dire humanitarian situation affecting the entire population;
3. Strongly condemns the serious violations of humanitarian law and widespread violations of human rights law, notably by former Séléka and militia groups, in particular those known as "anti-balaka", including extrajudicial killings, summary executions, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests and detention, torture, sexual and gender-based violence and the recruitment of child soldiers;
4. Condemns in the strongest terms the violence targeting members of ethnic and religious groups and their leaders; calls on the authorities to ensure an immediate cessation of violence and protect civilian populations; appeals to all Central African communities to exercise the utmost restraint and avoid a cycle of retaliations; calls on all parties in CAR to engage without delay in intercommunal and interfaith dialogues in order to prevent further escalation of violence;
5. Stresses that there can be no impunity for perpetrators of gross human rights and international humanitarian law violations; calls for the perpetrators of these acts to be reported, identified, prosecuted and punished in accordance with national and international criminal law; points out in this regard that the situation in the CAR has already been brought before the ICC and welcomes the statement made on 7 August 2013 by the Prosecutor of the ICC;
6. welcomes the establishment of an aerial humanitarian bridge by the EU, through ECHO flights – the aerial humanitarian transport service - as of December 9, in order to step up international efforts to stabilize CAR by ensuring that humanitarian aid reaches those most desperately in need;
7. Stresses that the current international security presence is manifestly insufficient for reversing the descent into deeper chaos and that the international security presence must urgently be strengthened;
8. Welcomes ongoing international efforts in this respect, including the strengthening of the Economic Community of Central African States’ (ECCAS) MICOPAX peacekeeping force and its reconfiguration into the International Support Mission for Central Africa (MISCA) peacekeeping force under the responsibility of the African Union by 19 December 2013;
9. Stresses, however, that further strengthening must be envisaged and in this context points to the statement by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon that 9,000 peacekeepers could be needed;
10. Calls upon the international community to make all necessary financial, troop and other contributions to the scaling up of the primarily African international security presence and ensure the implementation of its mandate; welcomes, in this respect, the 50 million euro provided by the EU in support of AFISMA –CAR;
11. Welcomes the adoption of UN Securiy Council resolution 2127(2013) and calls for its rapid implementation so as to spare the CAR population from further violence and insecurity;
12. Welcomes in particular the creation by the UN Security Council of a commission of inquiry to investigate reports of violations of international humanitarian law and human rights abuses committed in CAR by all parties since January 2013; calls on all parties to cooperate fully with this commission in order to ensure that the authors of these heinous acts are held accountable;
13. Encourages full cooperation with the Sanctions Committee established by UN Security Council Resolution 2127 (2013);
14. Welcomes the swift deployment of French military troops pursuant to the authorization given by UN Security Council and their efforts aimed at stopping the violence, protecting the civilian population, as well as disarming the militias;
15. Reaffirms its support for the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the CAR;
16. Calls on CAR authorities to implement without delay the agreements concerning the political transition in order to allow the holding of elections and a return to constitutional order by February 2015;
17. Calls on the international Community to to keep CAR at the top of its agenda and to support this fragile country; stresses in this respect that the humanitarian community must also maintain its commitment to CAR, in spite of the current political and security situation, and allocate adequate resources to respond to the medical and humanitarian crisis going through the country; is concerned by the restricted humanitarian access and condemns attacks against humanitarian workers; calls on all parties to the conflict, and in particular the Seleka, to allow safe and unhindered access to humanitarian and relief organizations;
18. Welcomes the increased EU support in addressing the humanitarian crisis in CAR and calls on the EU and its Members States, as leading donors to the country, to enhance their coordination with the other donors and international institutions in order to adequately meet the urgent humanitarian needs and alleviate the suffering of the Central Africans;
19. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, HR/VP Catherine Ashton, the UN Security Council, the UN Secretary General, the institutions of the African Union, ECCAS, the ACP-EU Parliamentary Assembly and the EU Member Stat