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
Louis Michel, Marietje Schaake, Jelko Kacin, Sarah Ludford, Izaskun Bilbao Barandica, Marielle de Sarnez, Kristiina Ojuland, Frédérique Ries, Robert Rochefort, Hannu Takkula, Ramon Tremosa i Balcells on behalf of the ALDE Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0561/2013
B7‑0575/2013
European Parliament resolution on the situation in the Central African Republic
The European Parliament,
- having regard to the Libreville (Gabon) Agreement of 11 January 2013 on the resolution of the politico-military crisis in the Central African Republic (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 report of the UN Secretary-General of 14 August 2013 and 15 November 2013 on the situation in the Central African Republic,
- having regard to the reports of the Head of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in the Central African Republic (BINUCA), the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and the Under-Secretary-General for Human Rights,
- having regard to UN Security Council Resolution 2088(2013) of 24 January 2013, UN Security Council Resolution 2121(2013) of 10 October 2013 and UN Security Council Resolution 2127 (2013) of 5 December 2013,
- having regard to the Security Council's declarations on the CAR, and asking the Security Council to support the new African-led operation,
- having regard to the statements by the president of the UN Security Council of 25 November 2013 on the Central Africa Region,
- having regard to the statement by the spokesperson of the United Nations Secretary-General of 6 October 2013 on the situation in the CAR,
- having regard to the decision of the African Union Peace and Security Council of 19 July 2013 authorising the deployment of the African-led peace support operation from 1 August 2013,
- having regard to the press statement of 13 November 2013 by the African Union Peace and Security Council on the situation in CAR,
- having regard to the extraordinary ECCAS summits of heads of state and government held in N'Djamena (Chad) on 21 December 2012, 3 April 2013, 18 April 2013 and 21 October 2013 and to their decisions to establish a National Transitional Council (NTC) with legislative and constituent powers, to adopt a roadmap for the transition process in the CAR and to deploy an air support,
- having regard to the meeting of the International Contact Group of 3 May 2013 in Brazzaville (Congo), which validated the roadmap for the transition and set up a Special Fund to assist the CAR; having regard to the statement of 8 November 2013 of the International Declaration of the International Contact Group on the Central African Republic, at the 3rd meeting in Bangui (Central African Republic),
- having regard to the statements of 21 December 2012, 1 and 11 January 2013, 25 March 2013, 21 April 2013 and 27 August 2013 by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the CAR,
- having regard to the statement of 21 December 2012 by the Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection on the new outbreak of conflict in the CAR,
- having regard to the resolution of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly of 19 June 2013 on the CAR,
- having regard to the statement of 27 November 2013 by the Co-presidents of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia),
- having regard to the UN Security Council press statements of 27 December 2012 and of 4 and 11 January 2013 on the CAR,
- having regard to the statements by the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, of 26 December 2012 condemning the rebel attacks and urging all parties to abide by the decisions taken by the ECCAS in N'Djamena on 21 December 2012, and of 5 August 2013 calling for an end to impunity for serious human rights abuses in the CAR, including the consideration of sanctions,
- 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,
- having regard to the briefing to the Security Council of 25 November 2013 by the UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson’s on the situation in the Central African Republic,
- having regard to the statements of 12, 19 and 31 December 2012 by the Chair of the Commission of the African Union, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, on the situation in the CAR,
- having regard to the EU Council conclusions of 21 October 2013 on the Central African Republic,
- having regard to the revised Cotonou Agreement,
- having regard to its resolutions of 17 January 2013 and 12 September 2013 on the situation in the CAR,
- having regard to Rules 122(5) and 110(4) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. Whereas the CAR has faced decades of instability and political unrest since it gained independence in 1960; whereas, despite the fact that it is a country rich in natural resources (timber, gold, diamonds, uranium, etc.), the CAR ranks only 179th out of 187 countries on the UN Human Development Index and, with around 70 % of its population living below the poverty line, remains one of the poorest countries in the world;
B. Whereas an International Contact Group on the Central African Republic was established in May 2013 to coordinate regional, continent-wide and international action in order to find a lasting solution to the country's recurrent problems;
C. Whereas earlier this year, a long-running civil war between the Seleka rebels – including bandits and mercenaries from Chad and Sudan – and the government of President François Bozizé resulted in the overthrow of Bozizé and his flight from the country;
D. Whereas, since the military victory of the Séléka coalition on 24 March 2013 and its seizure of power, elements of that coalition have committed many atrocities, rapes, crimes, acts of physical violence and thefts, as well as looting and other human rights violations, both in the capital and in the provinces, not being subject to any control;
E. Whereas the Séléka was dissolved by decree by the transitional Head of State on 14 September 2013; whereas the latter has lost control of groups claiming to be Séléka .
F. Whereas abuses are committed by both uncontrolled elements of the Séléka and by other armed groups, some of which claim they support former President Bozizé.
G. Whereas on 7 August 2013 the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued her second warning that the crimes committed in the CAR may fall under the ICC's jurisdiction and that her office will prosecute if necessary;
H. Whereas on 20 August 2013 a disarmament operation lead by the Séléka in Boy-Rabé, an area dominated by followers of ex-President François Bozizé, led to the killing of 11 people, with dozens more being wounded, and was accompanied by pillaging;
I. Whereas on 28 August 2013 more than 5 000 inhabitants of Bangui fled to the CAR's main international airport to escape marauding former rebel fighters, and occupied the tarmac for around 18 hours;
J. Whereas the Seleka leader Michel Djotodia appointed himself president, but remnants of the largely Muslim rebel force now roam over large parts of the country, killing; looting and burning out the Christian majority population, which has itself resorted to violence, escalating sectarian tensions which indicates that inter-religious tensions have exploited;
K. Whereas on 4 September 2013 the prosecutor of the Bangui Tribunal asked for a sentence of 10 years' imprisonment for the 24 former Séléka rebels brought to justice in the first trial dealing with the abuses committed in the CAR;
L. Whereas in the wake of the assassination of a senior judge by former rebels Seleka coalition, on 16 November 2013, the inhabitants of central districts of Bangui strongly expressed their discontent;
M. Whereas the fact that numerous perpetrators of human rights violations and war crimes have not been prosecuted; whereas it promotes the climate of impunity and favours the perpetration of further crimes;
N. Whereas in the town of Bossangoa the situation remains very unstable; whereas General Babacar Gaye, Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations Central, who visited on 27 November the city, talked about a very serious security situation, with the risk of explosion of interreligious conflict;
O. Whereas on 2 December 2013, an encampment of Fulani located near the town of Boali, 80 kilometers from Bangui, was attacked by popular militias, killing a dozen people, including children; whereas on 3 December, the governement decided to sent armed reinforcements to Boali to calm the situation on the ground and ensure the safety of all;
P. Whereas unspeakable horrors are continuing to unfold in the Central African Republic (CAR) with men and women thrown to crocodiles, children slaughtered or are being forced into the militias, razing villages; whereas atrocities are reported on both sides and Amnesty International describes human rights violations on "an unprecedented scale";
Q. Whereas the present situation is deteriorating; whereas we the war is being instrumentalised into a war of religion;.whereas the crisis in the CAR is not yet a genocide or a sectarian civil war but, as the UN and France said again on 1st December, it is headed in that direction; whereas a security council resolution calling for further support is circulating; whereas boosting the international force in the CAR for a limited operation may yet prevent the crisis turning into an even;
R. Whereas there is a risk of contagion in the region if CAR becomes a sanctuary for terrorists, narcotics traffickers, jihadists and bandits, the neighbours will be affected too; whereas Cameroon authorities temporarily closed the border with the CAR after Séléka rebels attacked the border town of Toktoyo and killed a Cameroon border officer;
S. Whereas this violence is again causing displacement of people, and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates that a third of the population have left their homes and are suffering from malnutrition, that 1.6 million people desperately need aid, 200 000 of whom need health care, while 484 000 are seriously short of food, that 206 000 people have been displaced, 60 000 of whom have found refuge in neighbouring countries; whereas, moreover, 650 000 children are no longer attending school because of the occupation of schools by armed groups and whereas 3 500 children have been recruited by the armed forces and armed groups;
T. Whereas on 26 November 2013, France announced to send 1,000 more troops to Central African Republic to support the African Standby Force, the International Mission Support Central (Misca), already present in the country; whereas this quota will be added to soldiers from African countries (DRC, Burundi) who are already present in the country; whereas the UN resolution of 5 December 2013 authorized the French troops to take all necessary measures to support the Misca;
U. Whereas it is necessary to reinforce military presence, notably the Misca, whereas 2500 military personnel is largely insufficient,
V. Whereas on 26 November 2013 General Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko (Congo) has been nominated as Special Representative of the African Union in the Central African Republic and head of the African force being deployed in the country (MISCA);
W. Whereas the European Union continues to engage in regular political dialogue with the CAR and remains the country's main donor having increase its humanitarian aid by €8 m, to €20 m; whereas this EU aid cannot be enough and whereas other international partners must also enter into commitments;
1. Condemns the unconstitutional seizure of power, by dint of armed force, by the Séléka coalition on 24 March 2013;
2. Reiterates its support for the Prime Minister, Nicolas TIANGAYE, who has the support of the international community,
3. Expresses its deep concern over the situation in the CAR, which is characterised 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;
4. Strongly condemns the serious violations of humanitarian law and the widespread violations of human rights, notably by elements of the Séléka, and other armed groups, including summary executions, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests and detention, torture, sexual and gender-based violence and the recruitment of child soldiers;
5. Calls for the perpetrators of human rights violations, war crimes, crimes against humanity, sexual violence against women and the recruitment of child soldiers to be reported, identified, prosecuted and punished in accordance with national and international criminal law; points out, in this connection, that the situation in the CAR has already been brought before the ICC and that, under the Court's statute, there is no period of prescription for genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes;
6. Notes that armed gangs from the now disbanded Séléka alliance are operating with impunity, that “self-defence” groups are being formed contributing to atrocities and that the current international security presence is manifestly insufficient for reversing the descent into deeper chaos, therefore calls that the international security presence must urgently be strengthened;
7. Urges the CAR authorities to protect the civilian population, to end the recruitment and use of children by armed groups, and to restore security and public order; Condemns the targeted and reprisal attacks against Muslims and Christians; Calls for the launching of an inter-religious dialogue;
8. Calls for the reconstitution of CAR's civil service in order to organize credible and uncontested national polls to guide the country further along the path of democracy; notes that, despite the efforts of Prime Minister Tiangaye, state structures and control have eroded to a point where little remains; encourages the participation of the civil society in the debates on the CAR's future;
9. Calls on the international partners to fully support their joint efforts in the fields of security, humanitarian aid and establishment of the rule of law;
10. Calls on the international community to increase military capability up to a force of 10.000 persons to ensure security in the country.
11. encourages the international community to maximise its humanitarian aid and points to the importance of improving the security situation also for making this possible; insists that further strengthening must be envisaged and points to the statement by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon that 9 000 peacekeepers could be needed; welcomes the decision of the UN Human Rights Council to appoint an Independent Expert to monitor the human rights situation in the CAR;
12. Calls upon the international community to make all necessary financial, troop and other contributions to scale up of the primarily African international security presence; 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, on 19 November, into the International Support Mission for Central Africa (Mission internationale de soutien à la Centrafrique, MISCA) peacekeeping force under the responsibility of the African Union;
13. Calls for urgent intervention in order to stop the killing of civilians, the burning of houses and the destruction of basic infrastructure inter alia needed for food production which have forced half a million of the country’s 4.6 million population to flee and, in many cases, to endure life in camps with minimal access to water, food, sanitation and basic healthcare; calls for the arresting of the members of the Lord's Resistance Army, in order to put an end to the devastation caused by this criminal group;
14. Welcomes the active participation of France and its collaboration with other African troops present in the CAR; is concerned, at the same time, that although 2,500 regional peacekeeping troops troops have been deployed to the CAR, they have been unable to prevent the country from sliding into lawlessness;
15. Points out that a worsening situation in the CAR could lead to regional instability; recalls that CAR is surrounded by other countries, with millions of inhabitants and the risk of contagion if it becomes a sanctuary for terrorists, narcotics traffickers, jihadists and bandits; underlines the need to act now to prevent this dangerous contagion;
16. Welcomes the appointment of General Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko (Congo) as Special Representative of the African Union in the Central African Republic and head of the African force being deployed in the country;
17. Considers it necessary, furthermore, to address the consequences of the conflicts, in particular through reform of the armed forces and security forces, demilitarisation, the demobilisation and reintegration of ex-combatants, the repatriation of refugees, the return of internally displaced people to their homes, and the implementation of viable development programmes;
18. Insists that a comprehensive political solution, including fair distribution of revenue through the state budget, is vital for finding solutions to the crisis and paving the way for sustainable development of the region;
19. Welcomes the EU's increased support for addressing the humanitarian crisis in the CAR, and calls for the EU and its Member States, as leading donors to the country, to enhance their coordination with the other donors and international institutions in order to meet the urgent humanitarian needs adequately and alleviate the suffering of the people of the CAR;
20. Calls on the authorities of the Central African Republic to fulfil the obligations laid down in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, which their country has signed;
21. 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 UN Security Council, the UN Secretary-General, the institutions of the African Union, the ECCAS, the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly and the Member States of the European Union.