1

AFRICAN UNION

UNION AFRICAINE

UNIÃO AFRICANA

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, P.O. Box: 3243 Tel.: (251-11) 5513 822 Fax: (251-11) 5519 321

Email: situationroom@africa-union.org

African Union Commission Report

Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development Assessment

Central African Republic

7-17August 2016

2

Table of Contents

ER

ROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.

LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................................. 3

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................... 4

INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................. 9

COMPOSITION OF THE TEAM ....................................................................................................... 9

ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY................................................................................................... 10

LIMITATIONS AND SCOPE............................................................................................................ 10

STAKEHOLDERS ENGAGED ......................................................................................................... 11

BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT ................................................................................................... 11

PREVIOUS ASSESSMENTS’ FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ................................. 13

FINDINGS OF THE CURRENT ASSESSMENT MISSION ......................................................... 14

CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES........................................................................................ 15

RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................................................................... 20

CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS................................................................................................... 23

ANNEXURE 1: FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF PREVIOUS NEEDS

ASSESSMENTS IN CAR ................................................................................................................... 25

ANNEXURE 2: SPECIFIC FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS MATRIX ..................... 32

ANNEXURE 3: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY IN FRENCH .............................................................. 51

ANNEXURE 4 – REFERENCES ...................................................................................................... 57

3

List of Acronyms and Abbreviations

ACCORD African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes

AfDB African Development Bank

AFISMA African-led International Support Mission to Mali

AGA African Governance Architecture

AU African Union

AUC African Union Commission

AU PSC African Union Peace and Security Council

AU RTF African Union Regional Task Force

CAR Central African Republic

CEMAC Central African Economic and Monetary Community

COMESA Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa

DDRR Demobilization, Disarmament Rehabilitation and Reintegration

DRC Democratic Republic of Congo

ECCAS Economic Community of Central African States

FACA Central African Military Force

LRA Lord’s Resistance Army

MINUSCA United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in

the Central African Republic

MINUSMA United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in

Mali

MISAC African Union Mission in the Central African Republic and Central

Africa

MISCA African-led International Support Mission to the Central African

Republic

MONUSCO United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the

Democratic Republic of the Congo

PCRD Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development

RCI-LRA Regional Cooperation Initiative for the Elimination of the Lord’s

Resistance Army

RECs Regional Economic Communities

RTF Regional Task Force

USSF United States Special Forces

SSR Security Sector Reforms

UN United Nations

UNDP United Nations Development Programme

UNOCA United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa

4

Executive Summary

1. At the request of the African Union Commission (AUC), and pursuant to a resolution of the

AU Peace and Security Council during its 612th Meeting held on 26 July 2016, a team of

experts conducted a needs assessment on post conflict reconstruction and development

(PCRD) in Central African Republic (CAR) from 7-17 August 2016. The main findings of

the assessment include the following:

2. Security

a) The security situation remains fragile with prevalence of human rights abuses,

incidences of outbreak of violence, tension, and criminality throughout the country. The

situation is exacerbated by the lack of state authority in most parts of the country which

consequently translates to general civilian population apathy, frustration and emergence

of self-help armed militia groups, banditry and criminality as a way and means of

survival.

b) The CAR defense and security forces are largely incapacitated with desertions,

indiscipline and lack equipment, uniforms, weapons as well as appropriate command

structures which has severely restricted their ability to provide security and deploy.

While efforts are underway to undertake nationally owned, driven and informed security

sector reforms (SSR) as well as demobilization, disarmament rehabilitation and

reintegration (DDRR) programmes, the United Nations (UN) Security Council

Sanctions and arms embargo severely restricts the ability of CAR’s security forces’

current capacity to provide security, with MINUSCA filling the gap, albeit with a

limited mandate to protection of civilians and government’s strategic infrastructure and

officials.

c) Armed groups particularly the former Seleka and Anti-Balaka elements continue to

control large territories of the country including areas rich in natural resources, levying

illegal taxes, causing intimidation and committing serious human rights violations and

atrocities to civilian populations.

d) The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) remains a significant threat to peace and security.

The result has been internal displacement of civilian populations, recruitment of child

soldiers, abduction of women, looting, destruction of property, human rights violations,

atrocities and abuses especially sexual and gender-based violence, and refugee

populations.

3. Democratic Governance

a. To give effect and meaning to the new constitutional dispensation, legal and institutional

reforms need to be undertaken in order to align the new constitution with the strategic

priorities of the Government towards post conflict reconstruction and development.

These priorities include: peace, reconciliation and security; renewal of the social

compact between the state and the population; and economic recovery and boosting

productive sectors.

b. Most of the institutions that safeguard democratic governance and provide public

service delivery in CAR especially security, public service, local governance, judicial,

penal, health, and accountability are severely incapacitated. Access to these facilities

5

and services by the citizens is severely hamstrung by lack of infrastructure such as roads,

electricity and the fact that there is an absence of state authorities to guarantee security.

c. Human rights violations and related atrocities especially sexual and gender based

violence in CAR is prevalent mostly by armed groups and criminal gangs and also

includes serious allegations of sexual violence abuses by state security agents, French

Sangaris and the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in

the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) .

d. The National Assembly has in the past not played its important role of oversight to

Executive excesses. The new Constitution expressly requires Parliament to diligently

exercise its oversight role on the principle of separation of powers including in awarding

contracts signed by the President and Prime Minister on the country’s natural resources.

High levels of illiteracy in the country also means that several Members of Parliament

do not have basic education and lack the capacity to pass laws and play their oversight

functions.

e. The humanitarian situation in CAR remains dire. Over 2 million of the 4.6 million

Central Africans are dependent on humanitarian assistance within and outside the

country’s borders. There are over 400,000 internally displaced persons in CAR and over

460,000 refugees in the neighbouring countries.

4. Socio-economic Development

a. Despite its rich natural resources, the country’s population is one of the poorest in the

world. In 2015 the country’s fiscal annual revenue was estimated at a paltry 100.6

million US Dollars with primary expenditures of about 181 Million US Dollars marking

a deficit of over 80 million US Dollars. The country is over dependent on donor aid to

finance its fiscal deficit including recurrent, capital and development expenditures.

b. Access to basic socio-economic services is severely constrained by lack of financial and

human resources as well the capacity of the state to deliver services.

c. Due to lack of state authority in the entire territory as well as lack of security and

capacity to effectively manage and police its borders has facilitated smuggling rackets

as well as illicit financial and natural resource outflows.

d. Lack of infrastructure to facilitate access and open the hinterland through roads and

energy has exacerbated the security situation in CAR and continued marginalization and

exclusion of rural communities from accessing basic socio-economic services.

5. Cross-cutting Issues

a. Lack of education, jobs and access to opportunities for productive engagement leaves

most youth vulnerable and easy prey for recruitment by armed and criminal groups.

b. Women in CAR bore the brunt of the conflict as victims and survivors but largely

remain inadequately represented in the country’s reconstruction processes. The country

does not have affirmative action mechanisms and measures to redress pervasive gender

inequality. Of particular concern is the fact that women have largely been left out of

6

peace processes including mediation, political negotiations and DDRR as well as SSR

processes.

6. Key recommendations to the African Union

a. Convene an African solidarity conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, before the Brussels

conference of November 2016 to mobilize bilateral support from Member States and

African private sector towards CAR’s PCRD efforts including identifying strategic pilot

initiatives on infrastructure development, and coordinate sharing of expertise and

technical advice.

b. Support and lead international efforts aimed at easing sanctions on CAR, including

through the resumption of the Kimberly Process on export of diamonds, and the partial

lifting of the UN arms embargo to facilitate the reconstituting of Central African

Military Force (FACA), gendarmerie and police forces and supporting comprehensive,

nationally owned, inclusive and participatory DDRR and SSR and, where necessary,

mobilize AU Member States working through the UN Security Council Sanctions

Committee to provide training equipment, weapons, expertise and advisers.

c. Facilitate dialogue with neighbouring countries to enhance regional peace and security

in order to reduce and eliminate external security threats to CAR. In particular,

strengthen the AU Regional Cooperation Initiative for the Elimination of the LRA (RCI-

LRA) by strengthening its secretariat and broadening its mandate, capacity of the RTF

and cooperation with MINUSCA to include inter-mission support on all armed groups,

operating in its area of responsibility.

d. Review the current AU Liaison offices in Central Africa (Chad, CAR, DRC, and

Burundi) with a view to foster better cooperation, coordination and, if need be,

consolidation, capacity enhancement to improve efficiency, impact and effectiveness

in light of the prevailing resource constraints.

e. Provide technical, resource and experts support to CAR through MISAC in the

establishment of transitional justice processes and mechanisms including the

establishment of a National Human Rights Commission; Truth, Justice, Reparations and

Reconciliation Commission; and a Special Criminal Court.

f. Identify and develop a pilot project in CAR on harnessing the demographic dividend in

line with the AU theme for 2017 which could include vocational training, youth in

democracy and peace-building, education and labour intensive employment

opportunities for youth especially in the rural areas.

g. Identify and implement, through the Inter-Departmental Task Force on Post-conflict

Reconstruction and Development of the AUC Quick Impact and peace strengthening

projects on various thematic areas of competence in alignment with CAR’s identified

priorities and needs in collaboration with the AU Special Representative to CAR.

h. Develop, in collaboration and partnership with ECCAS through the office of the AU

Special Representation in CAR a strategy for follow up, implementation, monitoring

and reporting to the AU, PSC on the status of implementation, gaps and opportunities

on PCRD in CAR.

7

7. Recommendations to Government of CAR

a. Ensure complementarity, synergy and coordination of SSR and DDRR, with an

emphasis on national ownership, inclusion and participation of all stakeholders’

including non-combatants especially youth and women.

b. Enhance cooperation, collaboration and good relations with neighbouring countries to

achieve regional peace and security and reduce the threat of foreign armed groups’

infiltration. In rebuilding its military capabilities strengthen its ability to focus on

securing the country’s borders and contribute to regional peace and security.

c. Consider, in collaboration with the AUC, adopting a regional security information

sharing mechanism for the Central African region, similar to the Nouakchott and

Djibouti Processes for the Sahel and East Africa regions respectively, to better

coordinate efforts for combating the threat of violent extremism and other organized

transnational crimes in the country and its neighbours.

d. Implement the new Constitution, and undertake legal and institutional reforms that are

necessary for achieving post-conflict reconstruction and development. In so doing,

adhere to the principle of separation of powers among the three arms of Government:

Executive; Legislature and Judiciary, in order to ensure appropriate oversight,

accountability and effective realization of the aspirations of the people of Central Africa.

To address pervasive impunity and achieve national unity and reconciliation, implement

the recommendations of the Bangui National Forum on Reconciliation and in particular,

establish a National Human Rights Commission; a Truth, Justice, Reparations and

Reconciliation Commission; and a Special Criminal Court.

e. Ensure prompt and appropriate accountability for crimes and allegations of human

rights violations especially sexual and gender based violence and atrocities by peace

keepers.

f. Foster state-civic relations through among others devolving state authority to local

government; civic education; facilitating platforms for regular engagement and

feedback from citizens on socio-economic service delivery; community policing; and

involvement of the military in community and infrastructure development.

g. Diversify the country’s economic base to ensure sustainable revenue generation in all

sectors including agriculture, mining, industrialization and entrepreneurship. To achieve

this, ensure fiscal discipline, fight against corruption, improve ease of doing business

through private sector incentives, enhance accountability, devolve revenue and tax

collection to local authorities, strengthen the capacity of customs service, and seal

loopholes that facilitate smuggling and illicit natural resource and financial flows.

8. Recommendations to the Regional Economic Communities

a. The AU in collaboration with RECs (COMESA and ECCAS) should plan and extend

the current pilot cross Border cooperation program funded by the KFW Development

Bank, to CAR in order to improve humanitarian access, cross-border security, cross-

border trade, as well as communication and cooperation between CAR and its

neighbours.

8

b. CEMAC and ECCAS in collaboration with IMF should consider introducing a

mechanism of compensating the loss of revenues on import taxes due to its regional

integration obligations through improved indirect taxation administration or any other

facility for at least the stabilization period of CAR.

9. Recommendations to the AU Member States

a. Enhance regional cross-border security through bilateral agreements on security and

intelligence cooperation including management of customs, border security and

strengthening of diplomatic relations with CAR.

b. Offer and facilitate lessons learnt capacity training and exchanges to CAR on post-

conflict reconstruction efforts and initiatives.

c. Second experts and provide technical and financial resources in key areas of priority for

CAR’s reconstruction that lack such capacity especially on SSR and DDRR , democratic

governance including local governance, public service, judiciary, trade and

infrastructure development.

10. Recommendations to the Private Sector

a. Enhance support to CAR through mobilization of private human and financial resources

towards the reconstruction of CAR especially in infrastructural development in the

communications, energy, transport and natural resources exploitation.

b. While investing in CAR ensure projects include capacity building of Central Africans

in order to ensure sustainable and viable human resource capacity of CAR.

c. Develop appropriate corporate social responsibility programmes that includes

rehabilitation of facilities and infrastructure especially roads, bridges, education, health

water and sanitation.

11. Recommendations to the International Community

a. Continue to act as guarantors of the fragile peace and security through MINUSCA and

in concert with national authorities develop a sustainable peace and security strategy to

ensure that the Government takes over as soon as possible its security and protection

obligations.

b. Continue to support the post conflict reconstruction and development of CAR through

availing adequate financial, technical and human resources including through the

upcoming donors and investors conference in Brussels on 17 November 2016 and fast

track disbursement of financial support to avoid late delivery of the peace dividend.

9

Introduction

1. The African Union (AU)’s authoritative policy framework on Post-Conflict Reconstruction

and Development endorsed in Banjul in 2006 by its Executive Council requested the

Commission, in collaboration with the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), relevant

UN agencies and other institutions and African Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs),

to take all necessary steps towards its effective implementation. The PCRD Policy outlines

six indicative elements along which PCRD activities should be implemented in Member

States emerging from conflict, namely: (a) security (b) humanitarian/emergency assistance

(c) political governance and transition (d) socio-economic reconstruction and development

(e) human rights, justice and reconciliation, and (f) women and gender. This approach

requires the Commission to work internally in a collaborative manner to implement

programmes in consolidating PCRD interventions in post-conflict and conflict-prone

Member States.

2. In line with its mandate to promote and sustain peace, the AU Peace and Security Council

(PSC) at its 593rd Meeting held on 26 April 2016, requested the African Union Commission

(AUC) to ensure that it addresses post-conflict reconstruction and development in a holistic

manner in order to achieve sustainable solutions to challenges faced by post-conflict

communities. Following the establishment of a new government in CAR in March 2016,

the AU PSC called on all stakeholders to support CAR towards post-conflict reconstruction

and development. Pursuant to a resolution of the AU PSC during its 612th Meeting held on

26 July 2016, a team of experts conducted a needs assessment on PCRD in CAR from 7-17

August 2016.

3. The main objectives of the PCRD Needs Assessment in CAR were to:

a. Assess, in collaboration with the national Government, regional and international

partners, the status and priority needs for the reconstruction of the country;

b. Develop a comprehensive strategy and action plan, ensuring complementarity of

international and regional efforts for reconstruction, and avoiding duplication of those

efforts;

c. Identify challenges, capacities, resources and opportunities for PCRD of the country;

d. Undertake a stakeholders mapping and identify potential roles and contributions of the

various stakeholders.

4. The findings and recommendations of the PCRD Needs Assessment will, among others, be

useful in providing the AU with an updated status of the situation on the ground in CAR

and the possible opportunities, priorities and avenues for supporting the country towards

reconstruction and development. As the country prepares for an international donors and

investors conference in Brussels on 17 November 2016, the AU is prime positioned to

deploy its political leverage to mobilize its Member States to support CAR in the spirit of

African solidarity by providing financial, technical, capacity and resources contribution.

Composition of the Team

5. The Mission was led by Ambassador Salvator Matata, the Common Market for Eastern &

Southern Africa (COMESA) Head of Liaison Office to the AU. Other members of the

assessment team included:

a. Yao Konan Pascal, Regional Desk Officer, Peace and Security Department;

10

b. Sandra Adong Oder, Senior Policy Officer, PCRD, Peace and Security Department;

c. Cheikh F. Mady Dembele, Senior Officer on Conflict Management & Strategic

Planning, Peace and Security Department;

d. Norman Mlambo, Expert - Common African Defence and Security Policy, Peace and

Security Department;

e. Mike Bugason, Advisor to AU Special Envoy for LRA Issues, Peace and Security

Department;

f. George Mukundi Wachira, Head, African Governance Architecture (AGA) Secretariat,

Political Affairs Department.

6. The mission was supported by the AU Mission in the Central African Republic and Central

Africa (MISAC) headed by the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the

Commission (SRCC) to CAR, and Head of MISAC, Professor Mohammed El Hacen

Lebatt. Technical support was also provided by Mr. Adelin Hatungimana of the African

Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD).

Assessment Methodology

7. The assessment adopted three distinct but interrelated assessment methodologies as

follows:

a. Desk top literature review and analysis of previous assessments with a view to

identifying, challenges, opportunities and status of implementation of

recommendations.

b. Engagement and consultations with various stakeholders, as identified in the next

section, to assess the current status, gaps, existing capacities, priorities and opportunities

for PCRD. These were structured either as bilateral consultations or, where necessary,

focus group discussions.

c. Systematic observation on the ground of the current situation and needs in CAR

through interaction with citizens, media, government officials, civil society and

residents.

Limitations and Scope

8. In light of limited time and resources available to conduct a comprehensive, multi-

disciplinary assessment, the scope and focus of the assessment were limited to four core

areas identified as priority PCRD issues in previous assessments. These are:

a. Security which entails Security Sector Reforms (SSR); as well as Disarmament

Demobilization, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DDRR);

b. Democratic Governance which includes public sector and local administration;

democratic institution building and legal reforms; human rights and transitional justice;

and humanitarian assistance;

c. Socio-economic Development which looks at reconstruction and rebuilding a

sustainable economy; infrastructure; management of natural resources; and jobs

creation; and

d. Cross-cutting Issues will examine gender empowerment and effective management of

the youth demographic.

9. The overriding principle of engagement and consultation with various stakeholders during

the assessment was to ensure local ownership, inclusion and effective participation of the

11

beneficiaries of PCRD initiative’s in CAR - citizens. At the heart of the assessment, thus,

was a conscious effort to interact and consult with ordinary CAR citizens, civil society,

media, academics, religious groups, trade unions, private sector, political parties, and

government officials.

Stakeholders Engaged

10. While not exhaustive, the assessment targeted consultations with the following category of

stakeholders (See Annexures 1 the detailed list and contacts of the various stakeholders

engaged):

a. Government Officials: Executive, Legislative (National Assembly), and Judiciary;

b. Civil Society

c. Youth Representatives and Organizations

d. Women Representatives and Organizations

e. Special Representative of the Chairperson of the Commission to CAR

f. Representatives of AU Member States in CAR

g. Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS)

h. United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central

African Republic (MINUSCA)

i. International Partners: UN Development Programme (UNDP); World Bank; African

Development Bank (AfDB); European Union (EU); France.

j. International Peace Support Missions: MINUSCA Sector East, AU Regional Task Force

(RTF) and US Special Forces with the participation of the United Nations Organization

Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) and the

United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA).

k. Association of LRA Victims in Haute Kotto Prefecture

l. Counter-LRA Early Warning Networks and Civil Society Peace Committees in Haute

Kotto Prefecture

m. Invisible Children

Background and Context

11. Since the CAR gained independence from France in 1960, the country has alternated

between relative peace and conflict. The resultant instability and poor governance had a

profound impact on the country’s socioeconomic development. For nearly two decades

between 1985 -2004, the country registered a very slow GDP growth rate of 2% per annum

in average. In 2015 its GDP growth was estimated at 3.1% with a projected growth of 4.1%

in 2016 (IMF Aide Memoire on CAR 2016).

12. The most recent crisis in CAR resulted in the overthrow of former President Francois Bozize

on 24 March 2013 by the Seleka Movement whose leader, Michel Djotodia, declared

himself President. The conflict subsequently took a religious tone with the emergence of a

self-defence group – Anti-Balaka – which self-identified as Christian – as opposed to the

Seleka Movement, whose following was largely Muslim.

13. After mediated negotiations, in February 2014, a transitional government was established

in the country, with Ms. Catherine Samba-Panza as the transitional President. Following a

constitutional referendum in December 2015, the transition ended after general elections

12

held later in December 2015 and a run-off in February 2016 that ushered in the current

Government led by President Faustin-Archange Touadéra who was sworn in on 30 March

2016.

14. The World Bank Estimates (2013) that CAR has a population of 4.6 million people. The

country is rich in natural resources including diamonds, gold, oil and uranium (2014 Joint

AU, UN, EU and ASSN Assessment; also see map in Annexure) but the prevailing political

and security instability has hampered the State’s capacity to exploit and equitably share

these resources for the benefit of the country’s people.

15. In a recent official communication by the Government of CAR, dated 7 July 2016,

addressed to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Government recognized that it is

facing considerable challenges putting the country in a fragility status characterized by

decrease in GDP by 37.6% in 2013 and a slow growth of a combined rate of 5.8% in 2014

and 2015, a public debt of 48.5% of GDP in 2014, a current balance of payments deficit of

9% of GDP and decrease of 3% in 2015 of the financing of private sector as a consequence

of fiscal deficit and accumulation of public arrears to private enterprises. In 2015, the State

fiscal revenues were estimated at 100.6 million USD with a recurrent expenditure of 181

Million USD, marking a deficit of over 80 million USD without capital expenditure ((IMF

Aide Memoire on CAR 2016).

16. The Transitional Authorities which lasted two years, from February 2014 - February 2016,

among others facilitated three important processes towards the rebuilding of the country

that are central to this assessment and which have largely shaped and informed the

assessment findings, recommendations and opportunities for implementation. These

processes are:

a. The development and adoption of a New Constitution on 30 August 2015 which was

endorsed through a popular referendum on 13 and 14 December 2015.

b. Convening of the Bangui National Forum from 4-11 May 2015 which resulted in the

adoption of a Republican Pact for Peace, National Reconciliation and Reconstruction in

the CAR, which largely provided the basis for the envisaged reforms for the

reconstruction of the country including on DRR, SSR, governance and socio-economic

development.

c. The conduct of General Elections in December 2015 and February 2016 which ushered

in the current legitimate Government led by H.E President Faustin-Archange Touadera.

17. The Bangui National Forum and the assessment missions discussions with various

stakeholders reveal that the conflict in CAR can be traced to the following structural root

causes and triggers:

a. Democratic governance deficit which manifests itself in the lack of state authority,

legitimacy and capacity to govern and provide basic civil, political, social, economic

services that are prerequisites of a government to its citizens. The lack and inadequacy

of institutions of democratic governance have resulted in mismanagement of diversity;

impunity; lack of accountability, corruption; weak state institutions of public service

and lack of rule of law; lack of local and devolved governance institutions; human rights

violations; and failure to secure durable solutions to the resultant humanitarian situation

particularly relative to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugees.

13

b. Lack of socio-economic development in terms of basic infrastructure to facilitate

effective service delivery such as roads, energy, water, education, health, housing, and

sanitation has compelled the citizens to fend for themselves amidst severe hardships and

constraints. The mismanagement and inequitable share of natural resources as well as

youth unemployment have equally caused significant disenfranchisement and agitation

among the population, especially in the rural and marginalized areas. Vested regional

and international interests as well as external interference over the exploitation of the

country’s natural resources have also been contributing factors to the conflict in CAR.

c. Insecurity - the state’s limited capacity and inability to provide security to itself, let

alone to its citizens, has left the vulnerable population under the control of militias and

non-state armed groups which extort citizen’s possessions and commit abuses with

impunity. The fact that the State has had limited, if any, authority beyond the urban

centres particularly in Bangui has translated to proliferation of general criminality and

banditry as well as the emergence of armed groups – Seleka and Anti-Balaka – including

foreign fighters who easily use CAR as hideouts and a theatre for destabilizing the

population, illegally exploiting and trafficking the country’s natural resources, as

exemplified by the territory currently under occupation by the Lord Resistance Army

(LRA) in the south-east of CAR. The mismanagement of the national security forces

and police through cronyism, patronage and skewed appointments led to

unprofessionalism, incapacity and indiscipline of the military and police force attendant

disregard for command structures.

d. Limited inclusion and participation of women and youth in state affairs leading to

gender imbalance and disenfranchisement of the youth who end up joining armed

groups and other criminal networks. Despite the recent notable political progress,

particularly with the appointment of the transitional president Catherine Samba and the

Chair of the Electoral Commission, women and youth remain on the fringes of the

country’s state affairs and reconstruction. The lack of structured, diverse and organized

national and local civil society formations to address gender and youth concerns have

resulted in their continued marginalization, exclusion and frustrations with attendant

consequences to national cohesion, harmony and development. The lack of

accountability for sexual and gender-based violence over the years has also led to a

sense of impunity.

Previous Assessments’ Findings and Recommendations

18. The AU has previously conducted three joint needs assessments on CAR:

a. Report of the multidisciplinary expert mission to Central Africa Republic: 3-15 April

2006;

b. Report of the Joint African Union – World Bank (TDRP) Technical Multi-Disciplinary

Assessment Mission on Security Sector Reform (SSR), Disarmament, Demobilization

and Reintegration and Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development to the Central

African Republic (CAR): 02 – 11 June 2012;

c. Report of the Joint (AU, UN, EU and ASSN) Security Sector Reform Assessment

Mission to the Central African Republic: 18-26 May 2014.

19. Following the 2005 elections held after the 2003 coup, the AU PSC during its meeting on

24 June 2005, among other things, encouraged the AUC to send an expert mission to

evaluate the security and socio-economic situation and make recommendations towards the

14

support to CAR post-conflict reconstruction by international partners. At that time, the

report indicated that CAR had experienced a slow growth rate of 2% for 20 years (1985 to

2004), caused by political instability, bad governance, poor infrastructures, weak financial

sector and destruction of human capital.

20. The 2012 and 2014 assessments were limited in scope, placing emphasis on security sector

reforms while the current assessment seeks to examine in a holistic manner all the six

constitutive elements of the AU PCRD Framework:

a. Security;

b. Political governance and transition;

c. Human rights, justice and reconciliation;

d. Humanitarian assistance;

e. Reconstruction and socio-economic development, and

f. Gender.

21. The matrix in Annexure consolidates and highlights some of the key findings and

recommendations of the previous needs assessments with an indication of the status of their

implementation.

Findings of the Current Assessment Mission

22. The findings and recommendations of the current assessment mission are based on the

PCRD Framework’s six (6) constitutive elements.

a) Security;

b) Political governance and transition;

c) Human rights, justice and reconciliation;

d) Humanitarian assistance;

e) Reconstruction and socio-economic development, and

f) Gender.

23. Three of these elements: political governance and transition; human rights, justice and

reconciliation; and humanitarian assistance are consolidated in the report given their

overlapping and close interrelationships to constitute the democratic governance theme.

Two cross-cutting issues, namely youth and women, are covered under the themes of

inclusion, participation and empowerment. However given that women are key actors in

post-conflict reconstruction and development, where applicable, recommendations have

been made in the other clusters. Economic governance is addressed as part of the socio-

economic development cluster.

24. It is instructive to note that the Bangui National Forum of May 2015 and the President’s

Inaugural Speech on 30 March 2016 largely set the tone and highlights for CAR’s national

priorities for security, reconciliation, as well as reconstruction and development. This

report aligns its findings and recommendations to the issues highlighted by these national

priorities as well as the elaboration that was provided by national authorities and other

relevant stakeholders that were consulted during the PCRD needs assessment in CAR.

15

25. The following are the key positive trends and developments that were noted by the

assessment mission which offer hope, promise and opportunity for the reconstruction of

CAR. These trends reaffirm the imperative of concerted efforts by all stakeholders to

support the country in its PCRD efforts:

a. The priorities identified by the Government - as highlighted in the Presidents

inauguration Speech of March 2016 and presented to Parliament by the Prime Minister

- towards reconstruction are in alignment with the citizens’ aspirations and needs which

were consolidated through a participatory and inclusive nationally owned, led and

driven process – the Bangui National Forum. The Government priorities are structured

along three pillars: i) peace, reconciliation and security; ii) renewal of the social contract

between the state and the population; and iii) economic recovery as well as boosting

productive sectors.

b. The Government is committed and ready to undertake necessary structural reforms in

the areas of public finance, accounting, financial sector, mining industry, and fostering

an enabling environment to attract investors under the IMF Extended Facility.

c. The President, and indeed the entire Government, is open to dialogue and has

demonstrated significant good will to engage with all stakeholders including armed

groups.

d. The international community is keen and willing to support the PCRD efforts of CAR,

amongst others, through the upcoming donors and investors’ conference in Brussels on

17 November 2016.

26. Despite the above-mentioned positive trends, challenges and gaps remain towards the

reconstruction of CAR. The next section of this report highlights some of these challenges

and, importantly, identifies opportunities for the implementation of recommendations to

redress the gaps. It is important to note that the issues are interlinked and interrelated given

the close convergence and nexus between security, development and governance. In fact,

the triple objectives of peace, governance and development are mutually desirable and

interwoven imperatives such that the absence of one is bound to lead to the loss of the other

two. The report examines these issues from the lens of stabilization efforts, transformation

and institutional building, and consolidation. However, given the limited time and scope of

the assessment, the focus of the report’s findings and recommendations are on stabilization

efforts as well as transformation and institutional building.

Challenges and Opportunities

27. Security

a. There is a marked improvement in the security situation in CAR, especially in Bangui,

following the successful holding of the constitutional referendum on 13 December 2015

and general elections in December 2015, February and March 2016 that ushered in a

legitimate government. However, the security situation remains fragile with prevalence

of human rights abuses, incidences of outbreak of violence, tension, and criminality

throughout the country. The situation is exacerbated by the lack of state authority in

16

most parts of the country, which consequently translates to general civilian population’s

apathy, frustration and emergence of armed militia groups, banditry and criminality as

a way and means of survival.

b. The CAR Military, Gendarmerie and Police forces are largely incapacitated due to

desertions, indiscipline as well as lack of equipment, uniforms, weapons and appropriate

command structures, severely limiting their ability to provide security and defend the

national territory. While efforts are underway to undertake nationally owned, driven and

informed security sector reforms as well as DDRR programmes, the existing UN

Security Council sanctions and arms embargo on the country, have severely hampered

the ability of CAR’s security forces to provide security, leaving MINUSCA to fill the

gap, albeit with a mandate limited to the protection of civilians and government’s

strategic infrastructure and officials.

c. Armed groups, particularly the ex-Seleka and Anti-Balaka continue to control large

territories of the country including areas rich in natural resources, levying illegal taxes,

causing intimidation and committing serious human rights violations and atrocities to

civilian populations. These groups and many individual civilians illegally possess small

and light weapons and ammunitions, which they use for the abovementioned criminal

activities against the vulnerable civilians. The general inaccessibility of remote parts of

the country, due to lack of state authority, and underdevelopment including the lack of

infrastructure such as roads, contributes to the inability of the state or security actors to

retake control of these territories and offer protection.

d. The LRA remains a significant threat to peace, security and stability in the South Eastern

part of the country, notably in the Prefectures of Haute-Kotto, Haut Mbomou, and

Mbomou which are rich in mineral resources. Other foreign armed groups, including

the Janjaweed from Sudan and the nomadic Mbororo, also operate and commit crimes

in CAR with impunity, destabilizing not only CAR but also threatening cross-border

and regional peace and security. The result has been internal displacement of civilian

populations, recruitment of child soldiers, abduction of women, pillaging, looting,

destruction of property, human rights violations, atrocities and abuses especially sexual

and gender based violence and refugee populations. It is estimated that there are about

421, 283 IDPs in CAR and 460,000 Refugees from CAR in the neighbouring countries

(UNSG Report to UNSC, April 2016).

28. Democratic Governance

a. The adoption of a new Constitution through a popular national referendum that was

passed with 93% of the votes cast in December 2015 marks a significant milestone in

enhancing the rule of law, constitutionalism and protection as well as the promotion of

fundamental human and peoples’ rights in CAR. To give effect and meaning to the new

constitutional dispensation, legal and institutional reforms need to be undertaken in

order to align the Constitution with the strategic priorities of the Government towards

17

post-conflict reconstruction and development. These priorities include: peace,

reconciliation and security; renewal of the social contract between the state and the

population; and economic recovery and boosting the productive sectors.

b. Most of the institutions that safeguard democratic governance and provide public

service delivery in CAR especially security, public service, local governance, judicial,

penal, health, and accountability are severely incapacitated and almost collapsed. Some

civil servants salaries are in arrears, promotions and related incentives are no longer

feasible and lack a pension scheme. Judicial facilities and functions have largely stalled

except in Bangui and a few urban centres. The prison system is overcrowded and

requires rehabilitation especially after the damage caused in one of the major prisons

where nearly all the 700 inmates escaped in Ngaragba prison on 28 September 2015.

Access to these facilities and services by the citizens is severely hamstrung by lack of

infrastructure such as roads, electricity and the absence of state authorities to guarantee

security.

c. Human rights violations and related atrocities especially sexual and gender-based

violence in CAR is prevalent, perpetrated mainly by armed groups and criminal gangs

but also includes serious allegations of sexual violence abuses by state security agents,

the French Sangaris and MINUSCA. The absence of the state across the entire territory

and the lack of capacity of the security forces to provide security are largely to blame

as is the culture of impunity and lack of accountability mechanisms which was eroded

due to the governance deficit and long standing conflict and instability in the country.

d. Impunity, corruption and accountability in CAR remain as serious threat to the security

and socio-economic development of the country. Apart from the armed groups,

criminals, public officials and security agents have largely been held unaccountable as

the justice mechanisms are rife with corruption, abuse and in serious need of reforms

that should include vetting and lustration. The Bangui National Forum on

Reconciliation of May 2015, since endorsed by the President and National Assembly,

recommended the establishment of a national Human Rights Commission; a Truth,

Justice, Reparations and Reconciliation Commission; and a Special Criminal Court to

provide redress for victims of atrocities and human rights violations during the conflict.

e. The National Assembly had, in the past, not played its important role of oversight to

Executive excesses. The new constitution expressly requires Parliament to diligently

exercise its oversight role on the principle of separation of powers including in awarding

contracts signed by the President and the Prime Minister on the country’s natural

resources. Owing to the high levels of illiteracy in the country, some Members of

Parliament do not have basic education and lack the capacity to pass good laws and play

their oversight functions. The President of the National Assembly requested for the

assistance of the AU, through the August 2016 needs assessment mission, in building

the capacity of the Parliament.

18

f. The country conducted peaceful and credible elections in December 2015, as well as

February and March 2016, with commendable financial and technical support from the

AU, ECCAS and neighbouring countries-Cameroon, the Congo, DRC, Gabon,

Equatorial Guinea and Angola, to the success of the electoral process. The conduct of

the National Elections Authority is commendable and its capacity needs to be

strengthened to foster public participation in electoral processes. Despite the conduct of

elections, the participation of citizens, particularly women and the youth who constitute

over 72% of the country’s population, in rebuilding the state needs to be fostered by

improving state-civic relations and access to information as well as broadening

platforms for dialogue and public engagement beyond electoral cycles. Such avenues

may include adopting affirmative action to ensure inclusion and equitable representation

of these demographics, devolving public services to local authorities and government,

as well as strengthening civil society and community based organizations, and the

media.

g. The Humanitarian situation in CAR remains dire. Over 2 million of the estimated 4.6

million Central Africans are dependent on humanitarian assistance within and outside

the country’s borders. There are about 421, 283 IDPs in CAR and over 460,000 refugees

in the neighbouring countries, collectively constituting about 20% of the country’s

population (UNSG Report to UNSC, April 2016). While most of the recent

displacements and refugees were caused by the conflict between the Seleka and Anti-

Balaka since 2013, a significant number of the IDPs and refugees are as a result of

foreign armed groups in CAR especially the LRA. In addition, the conflict in South

Sudan has led to the influx of about 8, 000 refugees (mostly women and children) into

Bambouti, in the south-eastern part of CAR. Given the difficulties in accessing some of

the IDPs camps and the refugees their humanitarian situation is serious with lack of

clean water, sanitation, health care, shelter and food. The general insecurity in the

country is also a great cause for concern with several incidences of human rights abuses,

sexual and gender based violence and criminality in the camps targeting refugees and

IDPs by the armed groups. In this regard, the planned withdrawal of the Ugandan

contingent from the AU RTF for the elimination of the LRA will leave the IDPs and

refuges in the south-east more vulnerable to the armed groups unless MINUSCA

deploys to cover all those sites.

29. Socio-economic Development

a. Some of the structural root causes of conflicts and insecurity in CAR are the inequitable

distribution of natural resources and the lack of socio-economic development across the

country. Despite its rich natural resources, the country’s population is one of the poorest

in the world. In 2015, its fiscal annual revenue was estimated at a paltry 100.6 million

US Dollars with primary expenditures of about 181 million US Dollars marking a deficit

of over 80 million US Dollars. (UNSG Report to UNSC, April 2016, pg 9). Over

dependent on donor aid to finance its fiscal deficit including recurrent, capital and

development expenditures, the country’s revenue base and resource mobilization needs

19

to be broadened to cover other sectors and not over rely on import taxes. Domestic debt

ballooned to unstainable levels which collapsed the domestic private sector.

b. Access to basic socio-economic services is severely constrained by lack of financial and

human resources as well as the capacity of the state to deliver basic services. Access to

education, health services, clean water, food, housing and sanitation are deplorable, at

times compelling citizens to fend for themselves for survival including through

criminality and banditry, in extreme cases, forming or joining armed groups. According

to statistics provided by various stakeholders during the needs assessment mission, 80%

of the country’s youth - who constitute about 72% of the entire population, are illiterate

and lack basic education. In addition to the absence of the state in the hinterland, access

to these basic human services is highly attributed to general insecurity and lack of

infrastructure.

c. The lack of state authority in the entire territory as well as lack of security and capacity

to effectively manage and police its borders has facilitated smuggling rackets as well as

illicit financial and natural resource outflows. The highly centralized customs service

and the prevailing insecurity in the country have left the armed groups to take charge in

the countryside and levy illegal taxes, and clashes with civilians such as the recent

incidents between pastoralists and armed groups in the prefectures of Bas-Kotto,

Mambre-Kadei, Nana-Mambre, Ouaka and Ouham in 2016.

d. Lack of infrastructure to facilitate access and open the hinterland through roads and

energy has exacerbated the security situation in CAR, along with continued

marginalization and exclusion of rural communities from accessing basic socio-

economic services. Without adequate infrastructure, government services cannot be

effectively rolled out to the rural communities let alone stimulate economic

development by facilitating access to areas that are rich in natural resources to ensure

their efficient and effective exploitation and equitable distribution, create jobs and

employment, facilitate service delivery, and foster commerce and economic recovery

of the country. The country has power generation capacity of a meagre 40 MW but

only 17 MW is currently produced, implying that power and electricity remain one of

the country’s largest inhibitors to the socio-economic development and therefore an

urgent priority towards reconstruction (UNDP, 2016).

30. Cross-cutting Issues

a. Lack of education, jobs and access to opportunities for productive engagement of the

youth, who constitute 72% of the country’s population, has left 80% of these youth

uneducated, rendering them vulnerable and easy targets for recruitment by armed and

criminal groups.

b. Women in CAR bore the brunt of the conflict as victims and survivors but they largely

remain inadequately represented in the country’s reconstruction processes. Indeed,

while there is some progress in the representation of women in Parliament with about

20

15 out of 115 MPs and 4 out of 23 Cabinet Ministers, much more needs to be done to

ensure gender equity and representation. The country does not have affirmative action

mechanisms and measures to redress the pervasive gender inequality. Of particular

concern is the fact that women have largely been left out of peace processes including

mediation, political negotiations and DDRR as well as SSR reform processes.

c. Ensuring accountability for sexual and gender based crimes and violence by state and

non-state actors is one of the top priorities of the Government. However, CAR does not

have a gender legal and policy framework to address gender inequality and

empowerment let alone accountability for these crimes pending the establishment of the

Special Criminal Court and the Truth, Justice, Reparations and Reconciliation

Commission. There is presently no state-led accountability mechanism for sexual and

gender based violence against women in CAR.

Recommendations

31. Key Recommendations to the African Union

a. Convene an African solidarity conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, before the Brussels

Conference of November 2016 to mobilize bilateral support from Member States and

African private sector towards CAR’s PCRD efforts including identifying strategic pilot

initiatives on infrastructure development, and coordinate sharing of expertise and

technical advisers.

b. Support and lead international efforts aimed at easing sanctions on CAR, including

through the resumption of the Kimberly Process on export of diamonds, and the partial

lifting of the UN arms embargo to facilitate the reconstituting of Central African

Military Force, gendarmerie and police forces and supporting comprehensive,

nationally owned, inclusive and participatory DDRR and SSR and, where necessary,

mobilize Member States working through the UN Security Council Sanctions regime,

to provide training equipment, weapons, expertise and advisers.

c. Facilitate dialogue with neighbouring countries to enhance regional peace and security

in order to reduce and eliminate external security threats to CAR. In particular,

strengthen the AU Regional Cooperation Initiative for the Elimination of the LRA (RCI-

LRA) by strengthening its secretariat and broadening its mandate, capacity of the RTF

and cooperation with MINUSCA to include inter-mission support on all armed groups,

operating in its area of responsibility.

d. Review the Liaison offices in Central Africa (Burundi, CAR, Chad,, the Democratic

Republic of Congo (DRC)) with a view to fostering better cooperation, coordination

and, if need be, consolidation, capacity enhancement to improve efficiency, impact and

effectiveness in light of the prevailing resource constraints.

e. Provide technical, resource and experts support to CAR through MISAC in the

establishment of transitional justice processes and mechanisms including the

establishment of a National Human Rights Commission; Truth, Justice, Reparations and

Reconciliation Commission; and a Special Criminal Court.

21

f. Identify and develop a pilot project in CAR on harnessing the demographic dividend in

line with the AU theme for 2017 which could include vocational training, youth in

democracy and peacebuilding, education and labour intensive employment

opportunities for youth especially in the rural areas.

g. Identify and implement, through the AUC’s Inter-Departmental Task Force on Post-

conflict Reconstruction and Development quick impact and peace strengthening

projects on various thematic areas of competence in alignment with CAR’s identified

priorities and needs in collaboration with the AU SRCC to CAR.

h. Develop, in collaboration and partnership with ECCAS through the office of the AU

Special Representation in CAR, a strategy for follow up, implementation, monitoring

and reporting to the AU, PSC on the status of implementation, gaps and opportunities

on PCRD in CAR.

32. Recommendations to Government of Central African Republic

a. Ensure complementarity, synergy and coordination of SSR and DDRR, with an

emphasis on national ownership, inclusion and participation of all stakeholders’

including non-combatants especially youth and women.

b. Enhance cooperation, collaboration and good relations with neighbouring countries to

achieve regional peace and security and reduce the threat of foreign armed groups’

infiltration. In rebuilding its military capabilities, strengthen its ability to focus on

securing the country’s borders and contribute to regional peace and security.

c. Consider, in collaboration with the AUC, adopting a regional security information

sharing mechanism for the Central African region, similar to the Nouakchott and

Djibouti Processes for the Sahel and East Africa regions respectively, to better

coordinate efforts for combating the threat of violent extremism and other organized

transnational crimes in the country and its neighbours.

d. Implement the new Constitution, and undertake legal and institutional reforms that are

necessary in achieving post-conflict reconstruction and development. In so doing,

adhere to the principle of separation of powers among the three arms of Government:

Executive; Legislature and Judiciary, in order to ensure appropriate oversight,

accountability and effective realization of the aspirations of the people of Central Africa.

To address pervasive impunity and achieve national unity and reconciliation, implement

the recommendations of the Bangui National Forum on Reconciliation and in particular,

establish a National Human Rights Commission; a Truth, Justice, Reparations and

Reconciliation Commission; and a Special Criminal Court.

e. Bring to justice all perpetrators of violations of international humanitarian law and

human rights, irrespective of their status or political affiliation.

f. Take measures to prevent gender based violence and especially sexual violence on the

part of all belligerents, and ensure protection of women, especially women.

g. Foster state-civic relations through among others devolving state authority to local

government; civic education; facilitating platforms for regular engagement and

22

feedback from citizens on socio-economic service delivery; community policing; and

involvement of the military in community and infrastructure development.

h. Diversify the country’s economic base to ensure sustainable revenue generation in all

sectors including agriculture, mining, industrialization and entrepreneurship.

i. Ensure fiscal discipline, fight against corruption, improve ease of doing business

through private sector incentives, enhance accountability, devolve revenue and tax

collection to local authorities, strengthen the capacity of customs service, and seal

loopholes that facilitate smuggling and illicit natural resource and financial flows.

j. Working with partners, following the commitment by armed militias to release all

children associated with them, ensure that children who are released and separated from

armed groups and militias receive special protection.

k. Continue efforts towards reopening schools and rehabilitating hospitals and health

centres, and protect them from use for military purposes.

l. Adopt a strategy to recruit and encourage the Diaspora to actively participate and engage

in the country’s PCRD efforts and where possible provide incentives to return to support

the country’s post conflict reconstruction and development.

33. Recommendations to the Regional Economic Communities

a. The AU in collaboration with RECs (COMESA and ECCAS) should plan and extend

the current pilot cross Border cooperation programme funded by the German

Development Bank(KfW, abbreviation in German), to CAR in order to improve

humanitarian access, cross-border security, cross-border trade, as well as

communication and cooperation between CAR and its neighbours.

b. CEMAC and ECCAS in collaboration with IMF should consider introducing a

mechanism of compensating the loss of revenues on imports taxes due to its regional

integration obligations through improved indirect taxation administration or any other

facility for at least during the stabilization period of CAR.

34. Recommendations to the AU Member States

a. Enhance regional cross-border security through bilateral agreements on security and

intelligence cooperation including management of customs, border security and

strengthen diplomatic relations with CAR.

b. Offer and facilitate lessons learnt capacity training and exchanges to CAR on post-

conflict reconstruction efforts and initiatives.

a. Second experts and provide technical and financial resources in key areas of priority for

CAR’s reconstruction that lack such capacity especially on SSR and DDRR, democratic

governance including local governance, public service, judiciary, trade and

infrastructure development.

23

35. Recommendations to the Private Sector

a. Enhance support to CAR through mobilization of private human and financial

resources towards the reconstruction of CAR especially in infrastructural development

in the communications, energy, transport sectors, and natural resources exploitation.

b. While investing in CAR, ensure projects include capacity building of Central Africans

in order to ensure sustainable and viable human resource capacity of CAR.

c. Develop appropriate corporate social responsibility programmes that includes

rehabilitation of facilities and infrastructure especially roads, bridges, education, health

water and sanitation.

36. Recommendations to the International Community

a. Continue to act as guarantors of the fragile peace and security through MINUSCA and

in concert with national authorities develop a sustainable peace and security strategy to

ensure that the Government takes over as soon as possible its security and protection

obligations.

b. Continue to support the post-conflict reconstruction and development of CAR through

availing adequate financial, technical and human resources including through the

upcoming donors and investors conference in Brussels on 17 November 2016 and fast

track disbursement of financial support to avoid late delivery of the peace dividend.

c. Ensure prompt and appropriate accountability for crimes and allegations of human

rights violations especially sexual and gender based violence and atrocities by

peacekeepers.

Concluding Observations

37. The AU PCRD assessment mission provided an opportunity to reflect on the nature,

extent and scope of support needed to sustain peace in CAR. It noted recent positive trends

and developments which offer hope, promise and opportunity for the reconstruction of

CAR. The following trends reaffirm the imperative of concerted efforts by all

stakeholders: AU Member States, African citizens, civil society, private sector and the

international community, to support the country in its PCRD efforts:

a. Priorities identified by the Government - as highlighted by the President in his

inauguration speech of March 2016 and presented to Parliament by the Prime Minister

towards reconstruction, are in alignment with the citizens’ aspirations and needs.

b. The CAR Government is committed and ready to undertake the necessary structural

reforms in the areas of public finance, accounting, financial sector, mining industry,

enabling environment to attract investors under the IMF Extended Facility.

c. The CAR President, and indeed the entire Government, is open to dialogue and has

demonstrated significant good will to engage with all stakeholders including armed

groups.

24

d. The international community is keen and willing to support the PCRD efforts of CAR,

amongst others, through the upcoming donors and investors’ conference in Brussels on

17 November 2016.

38. Successive humanitarian interventions in the CAR have failed to propel the country

towards a better future. Crisis after crisis, short-term investments have not been reinforced

by the long-term investments needed to address the root causes of violence, including

socio-economic and political inequalities between communities, corruption and lack of

rule of law1.

39. Implementation of the recommendations of the assessment mission require concerted

efforts and effective coordination of all stakeholders, in the spirit of African solidarity. The

AU should continue to play an active oversight and support role to the Government of

CAR to address the immediate and longer-term development needs.

1 Terrenoire, Jacques and Rose, Madeleine, ‘Africa in Focus - Foresight Africa 2015: Sustaining Investment in

the Central African Republic Will Test Global Commitments to Extreme Poverty, 21 January 2015,

https://www.brookings.edu, sustaining-investment-in-the-central-african-republic-will-test-global-commitments-

to-end-extreme-poverty(Accessed 21 August 2016)

25

Annexure 1: Findings and Recommendations of Previous Needs Assessments in CAR

Finding Recommendation Status of Implementation

( 2016 Assessment Mission

Findings)

Governance

1. Governance in CAR is

highly centralized and

revolves around the

Presidency (2014)

Enhance separation of

powers among the three

branches of governance:

Executive; Legislature and

Judiciary

A New Constitution that

clearly spells out

separation of powers

was approved by the

Transitional Council

Authority on 30 August

2015 and endorsed and

adopted through a

National Referendum in

December 2015

Some of the relevant key

provisions in the new

Constitution include:

o Creation of the

Senate

o Establishment of a

National Election

Authority

o Establishment of a

Body dedicated to

good human rights

and governance

o Requirement that

decisions by the

President and Prime

Minister must be

approved by

Cabinet

o Requirement that

the National

Assembly must be

informed when

Government signs

contracts on Natural

resources

2. Legal and judicial

services are mostly

available in Bangui and

with severe human,

financial and resource

inadequacies with

Devolve and enhance

human, financial, technical

and infrastructure capacity

of judicial institutions

beyond Bangui to all parts

of the country

Comprehensive justice

reforms including

judicial as well devolved

justice to the Prefectures

is part of the

recommendations of

26

attendant corruption and

impunity (2014)

Reinstall customary justice

institutions in adherence to

international human rights

standards

Bangui National Forum

that was held from 4-11

May 2016

Undertake judicial reforms

including where necessary

purging, vetting and

lustration of judicial

officials

3. The penal institutions

are overcrowded, below

international standards

and corrupt (2014)

Undertake penal reforms

and enhance the capacity

and resources of the penal

institutions

The situation is still dire

and obtains and its

reforms are part of the

recommendations of the

Bangui National Forum

4. Lack of organized,

centralized and effective

national civil society

formations to effect

social, security and

democratic change

(2014)

Enhance state society

relations through dialogue,

inclusion, participation,

constructive engagement

and recognition of

organized civil society by

the State in PCRD

initiatives

An NGO Network for

the Defence of Human

Rights that includes 10

NGOs - Réseau des

ONGs de Promotion et

de Défense des Droits de

l'Homme (RONGDH)

indicated a preference

for a horizontal

structure rather than a

vertical organized CSO

formation on the

principles of equity and

egalitarianism.

CSOs beyond Bangui

lack human, financial

and infrastructure

capacity and resources

to coordinate mobilize,

engage and implement

initiatives

The CSOs were

involved and

participated in the

Bangui National Forum

and agree with its

recommendations as a

feasible road map and

point of departure on

requisite reforms

5. Impunity and lack of

accountability hampers

peace, reconciliation,

harmony and state

capacity to deliver

development (2014)

Adopt transitional justice,

reconciliation and

reparations

The Bangui National

Forum identified and

recommended among

others:

o Establishment of a

National Truth,

27

Justice, Reparations

and Reconciliation

Commission

o Establishment of

Special Court to try

international crimes

committed during

the conflict

o Efforts and

processes to

establish these

mechanisms are

presently hampered

by lack of capacity

and resources to do

so

Development

1. The private sector is

largely underdeveloped Reform the financial sector

in order to increase funding

to private sector

Promote microfinance to

finance agriculture

The situation has not

changed and in fact,

there is accumulation of

public sector debt to

commercial banks

leaving a limited share

available to financing of

the private sector

2. The country’s revenue

and tax base is too

dependent on import

taxes

Reduce the fiscal

dependency on import

taxes ( 40% of the total)

Widen the indirect taxation

base

Fiscal revenues can

cover only 75% of

public servants salaries

3. Natural resources

exploitation is not

optimal or sustainable

Ensure sustainable

exploitation of natural

resources

Exploit more minerals

apart from diamond and

gold

Some of mineral areas

are still controlled by

armed groups which led

to the withdrawal of the

certification of diamond

exports as envisaged by

the Kimberly Process in

2013

Security

1. SSR needs to be

coordinated along 8

thematic issues:

National Defence;

Internal Security;

Judiciary

Administration;

Implement the three SSR

priorities proposed by the

Transitional Authorities

Decrees (N°22 and N°23)

signed in October 2013

Comprehensive SSR and

DDRR programmes are

part of the key priorities

of the CAR Government

as recommended by the

Bangui National Forum

of May 2015 and

28

Territorial

Administration;

Finances/Custom;

Democratic Control;

Intelligence and DDRR

(2014)

articulated by President

Faustin-Archange

Touadera in his

inauguration Speech on

30 March 2016

2. Strategic and Technical

Committees on SSR

were established to

create a link between

SSR and DDRR (2014)

Review and assess,

together with national and

international actors, the

effectiveness of the

Strategic and Technical

Committees on SSR in

order to decide whether to

keep them in their current

designed format, re-adapt

them to new

circumstances, or create

new sustainable

mechanisms.

The mission repeatedly

heard from all

stakeholders especially

the CAR National Youth

Council, that SSR and

DDRR have to go hand

in hand and in

complementarity

Importantly, DDRR

must be broadened in

terms of the scope and

reach to foster national

and local ownership,

advocacy, inclusion and

participation of all

citizens which must go

beyond ex-combatants -

to also target youth and

women who did not take

up arms as an incentive

not to get tempted to

imagine that DDRR only

benefits those who takes

arms

It is imperative to

conduct a critical

assessment and

evaluation of why

despite three past DDRR

efforts in CAR they were

largely unsuccessful in

order to tease out lessons

learned and ensure that

the proposed DDRR

programme has positive

impact and results

3. Law enforcement

agencies are in dire need

of a reform of their

Undertake rebuilding,

reconstruction and reform

of the police forces

Part of proposed SSR

reforms by the Bangui

National Forum May

29

structure, procedures,

image and relations with

the population before

they can become a well-

functioning service

(2014)

Establish and sustain

internal systems and

procedures for the

accountable and

transparent management

and administration of the

police services

2015; the President’s

March 2016

Inauguration Speech

and from all

stakeholders engaged

during the assessment

mission ( August 2016)

Improve police and

gendarmerie operational

capacities including

regarding the new

recruitment process to

increase the number of law

enforcement personnel in

relation to the population

Review the legal

framework, and undertake

specialized training to

achieve their

interoperability in spite of

their different command

structures etc.

Rebuild clear and

systematic links and

synergies between law

enforcement personnel and

the penal chain

4. With the arms embargo

FACA has limited

capacity to provide

defence and security of

the country (2014)

Finalize, with support of

partners, the registration of

the CAR defense force in

order to build a reliable,

sustainable and

manageable database for

the retirement, vetting and

restructuring of the army

CAR still needs to make

notable progress with

the envisaged SSR

reforms before the

lifting of the arms

embargo

In the meantime, the

country can still utilize

the UNSC sanctions

regime to request for

some of the available

exemptions that are

aimed at enhancing

capacity of the FACA

through training and

SSR reforms

The AU is a critical actor

in lobbying bilateral

support from its Member

States to CAR efforts in

reconstituting FACA

Reconstitute a balanced

geographical/ethnic/gender

representative national

defence force

Provide appropriate and

adequate equipment,

capacity and infrastructure

for the reconstituted

military forces

Reinforce, in addition to

internal disciplinary

measures, the reactivated

Military Court

30

Conduct CIMIC activities

(building schools and

roads, rehabilitation of

sites for IDPs) to restore

trust with the population

and undertaking SSR

reforms and where

necessary in providing

training expertise and

advisers

The AU should also

support CAR through its

political leverage and

convening power by

facilitating dialogue

with neighbouring

countries with regard to

enhancing regional

peace and security in

order to reduce and

eliminate external

security threats

Undertake adequate

training on humanitarian

law, child protection and

gender

Develop and adopt a draft

White Paper on Defence

5. The forest guards no

longer have capacity to

protect the country’s

wildlife and rich forests

(2014)

Reconstitute and enhance

capacity of the forest

guards

Constitutes part of the

envisaged SSR reforms

and capacity

enhancement

Reinforce state capacity to

raise revenues through an

efficient system for

collecting import and

export duties

Redeploy Custom Officers

throughout the country and

ensure security of their

work stations

Equip Custom Officers

with basic arms and

ammunitions,

communication facilities

and logistics

Finalize and adopt the new

atlas of conflict as a tool for

management of the

country’s rich natural

resources

Adopt a new Wildlife Code

as well as statute for Forest

Guards

Strengthen security within

protected areas and remove

all illegal roadblocks.

31

6. Customs service lacks

capacity to collect

revenue, protect and

secure the country’s

borders (2014)

Provide technical support

and enhance the capacity of

Customs services

The situation still obtains

with estimated fiscal

revenue figures in 2015 at

100.6 Million USD and

expenditure of 181Million

USD marking a deficit of

over 80 Million USD

(UNSG Report to UNSC,

April 2016)

7. DDRR and SSR have

not been systematically

linked (2014)

Systematically link and

plan for DDRR and SSR to

ensure proper

disarmament,

demobilization and

reintegration of former

combatants into society

and security services where

appropriate

Part of the proposed

reforms from the May

2015 Bangui National

Forum and the

Presidents March 2016

Inaugural Speech

recommendations

8. Private security

companies are largely

unregulated (2014)

Adopt a clear legal

framework for the

regulation of private

security companies in CAR

This should form part of

the envisaged SSR

reforms

Cross-cutting Issues – Gender and Youth

1. Women are the highest

victims of sexual and

gender based violence

(2014)

Address and ensure

accountability for sexual

and gender based violence

by security forces

Despite some notable

progress after the last

general elections in

December 2015-,

women continue to be

marginalized and in the

periphery of state

rebuilding: there are 4

women out of 23

Ministers and about 15

out of 115 Members of

Parliament.

There is still no

accountability in place

for Sexual and Gender-

based Violence (SGBV)

crimes in CAR and it is

hoped that this will

constitute the ongoing

reforms

2. There is no formal

gender related policy on

addressing sexual and

Develop a gender policy on

SGBV and accountability

mechanism for SGBV

32

gender based violence in

conflict (2014) Streamline gender-based

approaches for the

restructuring of security

institutions

With significant interest

from international actors

such as UN Women are

underway to support the

country to adopt gender

sensitive and empowerment

policies and laws including

accountability mechanisms

for SGBV

Annexure 2: Specific Findings and Recommendations Matrix

Findings Recommendations

Socio Economic Development

1. Revenue Collection and

Expenditure:

a. CAR’s revenue base is

limited with an

overreliance on aid and

external fiscal support to

finance even recurrent

expenditure

Broaden CAR’s economic revenue base beyond its

traditional revenue generation sources in order to reduce

overreliance on aid and external fiscal support which could

include fostering public/private sector investments in

manufacturing, innovation and technology, agriculture,

production and service sector.

Any macro-economic strategy for revenue collection and

expenditure should makes direct links between gender

equality, good governance, economic growth and social

development, and establish performance indicators for

education, health, political participation and economic

empowerment. Within the new political dispensation in

CAR and within the framework of AU PCRD Policy

implementation, substantial resources to promote gender

equality will fund priorities such as programmes to stop

gender-based violence and help implement the national

equality strategy.

Invest in systems to track gender post-conflict financing,

and work toward a goal of ensuring that all financing in

support of peacebuilding in CAR is dedicated to projects

whose principal objective is to address women’s specific

needs, advance gender equality or empower women.

Lobby and reengage with the Kimberly Process for removal

of the sanctions imposed on diamonds exports from CAR

33

Strengthen and enhance the capacity of the Revenue and

Customs Office to be more effective and seal revenue losses

loopholes particularly with multi-national corporations in

the natural resources sector

Devolve tax collection to local authorities

b. The country lacks

reliable statistics and data

on its population,

capacities and

opportunities

Support and enhance the technical and resources capacity

of the National Planning and Statistics Office to obtain up

to date data and statistics on social, political and macro and

micro economic development of CAR

Undertake a national census to obtain up to date data and

statistics on the population, demographic diversity, national

capacities as well as gaps and opportunities

c. Despite its rich natural

resources, domestic

resource mobilization is

poor, uncoordinated and

marked by lack of

accountability and

corruption

Adopt legal, policy and institutional framework to ensure

coordinated and equitable management and share of natural

resources as well as accountability and beneficiation

Review and revisit existing contracts on exploitation of

natural resources to ensure they are in alignment with the

country’s priorities needs and PCRD efforts

Undertake a cost benefit analysis as well as a return on

investment projections of projects to be presented at the

Brussels donors and investors conference on 17 November

2016 including absorption capacities

d. CAR has limited human

capacity in financial and

fiscal planning,

budgeting and

accounting for resources

and expenditure.

Support and enhance CAR’s human, technical and resource

capacity in financial and fiscal planning, budgeting and

accounting for resources and expenditure and improve

public finance management by introducing and

implementing an Integrated Finance Information

Management Systems (IFIMS) and helping to build their

requisite capacity by training professional staff who can

adhere to ethical standards.

Institutionalize women’s participation in and apply gender

analysis to all post-conflict planning processes so that

women and girl’s specific needs and gender discrimination

is addressed at every stage

Undertake a cost benefit analysis as well as a return on

investment projections of projects to be presented at the

Brussels donors and investors conference on 17 November

2016 including absorption capacities. There are

opportunities for advancing gender equality, particularly in

the areas of education, health, access to quality basic

services. Aside from the financial budgets being proposed

34

for the Brussels Conference, a separate Women’s Budget

needs to be developed

2. Management and

Equitable Share of Natural

Resources:

a. CAR’s management of

natural resources is

wanting with inadequate

legal, policy and

institutional oversight

and regulation of actors.

It also lacks

accountability

CAR should enhance and restore the sovereignty of the

state on management and exploitation of natural resources

Adopt legal, policy and institutional framework to ensure

coordinated and equitable management and share of natural

resources as well as accountability and beneficiation.

Strengthen the Parliament including through capacity

building, in legislative drafting in order to enact enabling

legislation to implement the Constitution and exercise of

oversight over other institutions and arms of government

Set up robust watch-dog institutions and anti-corruption

mechanisms in order to check the high-level corruption.

Enhance transparency in natural resource revenues,

including through open public contracting, and implement

budget and fiscal transparency measures by implementing

the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative

b. Revenue that is collected

from exploitation of

natural resources does

not equitably benefit all

CAR citizens or trickle

down to local populations

where those resources are

located

Adopt a national formula and strategy and implementation

mechanism on equitable share of the benefits of natural

resources through comparable lessons share and

experiences of other AU Member States

c. CAR is vulnerable to

adverse effects of climate

change and

environmental

degradation but the State

has limited capacity to

undertake adequate

measures to mitigate the

risks of climate change

and environmental

degradation

Adopt and implement a comprehensive strategy and policy

framework to counter adverse effects of climate change and

resilience

Sustainable development requires action on three fronts:

social, economic and environmental. Women are central to

progress in each area, as reaffirmed by the 2012 Rio+20

agreement, which makes commitments to ensuring

women’s equal rights and opportunities. This requires

empowering women and dropping discriminatory barriers

in diverse areas, among them agriculture, energy, health,

education, employment and disaster risk reduction

3. Socio Economic and

Services Delivery Provide adequate resources and enhance the capacity of the

state to provide and deliver social economic services

35

a. The State has limited

capacity or ability to

deliver basic and

essential socio economic

services across the

country such as

education; jobs; clean

water; sanitation; and

health. During the

assessment period 7-17

August 2016 the Health

Ministry had declared an

outbreak of cholera with

16 people reported dead

(WHO and OCHA)

particularly: Access to education, health services, jobs,

clean water and sanitation

Institutionalize women’s participation in and apply gender

analysis to all post conflict planning processes so that

women and girl’s specific needs and gender discrimination

is addressed at every stage

Include women in local development and infrastructure

programmes and involve them directly in setting priorities,

identifying beneficiaries and monitoring implementation.

As articulated in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for

Action,

i. Promote women’s economic independence, including

employment, and eradicate the persistent and increasing

burden of poverty on women by addressing the structural

causes of poverty through changes in economic structures,

ensuring equal access for all women, including those in

rural areas, as vital development agents, to productive

resources, opportunities and public services (Beijing

Declaration, Paragraph 26).

ii. Ensure women’s equal access to economic resources,

including land, credit science and technology, vocational

training, information, communication and markets, as a

means to further the advancement and empowerment of

women and girls, including through the enhancement of

their capacities to enjoy the benefits of equal access to

these resources, inter alia, by means of international

cooperation (Beijing Declaration, Paragraph 35).

iii. Develop gender-sensitive multisectoral programmes and

strategies to end social subordination of women and girls

and to ensure their social and economic empowerment and

equality… (Platform for Action, Paragraph 108[e]).

b. The poor transport,

communication and

access infrastructure

network in the country

hampers efforts to reach

the majority of the rural

populations to provide

basic services especially

health and education

Build and improve the infrastructure necessary to open up

rural areas in order to provide services and reach

communities in the hinterland particularly with roads,

hospital and health centres and schools

36

c. CAR lacks effective

devolved state authorities

in the rural parts

especially on health

services such as blood

banks, maternity and

essential medicines

which heavily impacts on

access for these essential

service to rural

populations

Enhance the capacity of local government authorities to

provide basic socio economic services through devolved

government and administration including revenue

collection including women in local development and

infrastructure programmes and involve them directly in

setting priorities, identifying beneficiaries and monitoring

implementation.

The percentage of women in national legislatures has

become a standard measure of a country’s achievements in

women’s political participation. Globally, the average has

inched upward, but is still far from reflecting women’s

share in society; disparities are also wide among local

government bodies. In the context of CAR, advocates for

the National Assembly to increase the number of women

leaders and representatives. Concretely, advocate for laws

and budgets to promote gender equality, while helping

legislators gain new knowledge of the value of gender

equality and skills to advance it, bring together women

leaders in CAR from across the political spectrum to jointly

lobby for common gender-related priorities. Engage with

Pan African Parliament and the Inter-Parliamentary Union,

amongst others to deepen collaboration with key

parliamentary leaders and tailor CAR women

parliamentarians to work to the particularities of different

legislatures

d. High levels of illiteracy

and lack of jobs in the

country means that the

majority of the

population especially the

youth who constitute

over 70% of the entire

population of 4.6 Million

with over 80% of the

Youth being uneducated

means that they are easy

targets for recruits into

armed groups and

criminality (Ministry of

Youth & UNDP)

Invest in universal access to primary and secondary

education and vocational training of the youth and young

adults, providing them with catch-up programs in literacy

and mathematical skills in addition to the practical

vocational skills in order to empower them to be productive

citizens in their families and communities, hence less

vulnerable to recruitment for armed and criminal groups

4. Infrastructure

Development:

a. Essential infrastructure

for socio- economic

development in CAR is

dilapidated and largely

CAR reconstruction is highly depended on access and

opening up the countryside, and location of natural

resources particularly through roads and reliable and

adequate energy

37

absent – For instance

beyond Bangui the road

network is inaccessible

Build roads and enhance the capacity of CAR to produce

and transmit energy including renewable energy sources

b. The current energy

generation capacity and

transmission is

inadequate to power the

envisaged economic

growth and development.

With a reported current

capacity of a meagre 40

MW, current energy

generation countrywide

is at 18 MW, which is

hardly enough to light up

sections of Bangui.

Prioritize increasing the energy generation and

transmission capacity of CAR and particular expand it to

include renewable sources for production, manufacturing

and lighting beyond Bangui

c. Water, Sanitation,

government facilities and

installations requires

rebuilding, expansion

and overhaul and

importantly spread across

the country to rural

populations

Rehabilitate water and sanitation infrastructure and expand

it to cover the entire country through devolved government

and administration

5. State Service Delivery

Capacity Enhancement:

a. Limited service delivery

in CAR is highly

centralized in Bangui and

out of reach for the

majority of rural

populations which is also

party due to the current

insecurity

Through devolution and local government and

administration ensure rural communities access basic social

economic services.

Advocate for including women in local development and

infrastructure programmes and involve them directly in

setting priorities, identifying beneficiaries and monitoring

implementation.

b. Public civil servants are

demoralized and have

few incentives to deliver

services with some still

owed backdated salaries

in arrears and hardly

receive promotions on

merit, training and

structured technical

exchanges

Rebuild the confidence and capacity of state public

officials to deliver socio economic services especially in

education, and health through training, improvement of

terms of service, regular payment of their salaries, training

and facilitating technical exchange programmes

38

6. Transparency and

Accountability:

a. The breakdown of the

rule of law in CAR led to

lack of transparency and

accountability by public

officials

Undertake legal and institutional reforms to foster

transparency and accountability

Provide support for the establishment of anti-corruption

bodies

b. Corruption, nepotism and

favouritism is rife in most

public service

appointments including

in the security sector and

public service leading to

indiscipline and poor

service delivery

Establish a public service commission with clear policies

and criteria for appointment and promotion to the public

service including on discipline and possible restructuring of

the service

7. Rebuilding Social Capital:

a. The collapse of the state

authorities across the

country and its ability to

offer adequate human

and personal security and

protection to the

population resulted in

erosion of the social

fabric and glue that binds

CAR citizens and

negatively impacted

upon citizens self-worth,

dignity and pride as a

united and cohesive

nation

Undertake advocacy and sensitization initiatives of citizens

to reinvigorate national pride, patriotism and sense of duty

to the state and foster national unity and cohesion. These

could include creative art, music, sports and national duty

such as community collective initiatives such as public and

street cleaning

The State should set up a social care system for vulnerable

populations

Advocate for including women in local development and

infrastructure programmes and involve them directly in

setting priorities, identifying beneficiaries and monitoring

implementation.

b. Ethnic and religious

intolerance is a

manifestation of the loss

of the CAR social capital

Adopt and support religious tolerance and interreligious

dialogue including respect of all religious events and

holidays by Christians and Muslims

Establish procedures to ensure the representation of

minorities in public institutions such as the parliament and

in public service, including the army, the police and the

judiciary

8. Role of the Diaspora:

a. One of the casualties of

the conflict in CAR was a

significant hemorrhage

of talent and brain drain

Adopt a strategy to recruit and encourage the Diaspora in

PCRD efforts and where possible incentives to return to

support the country’s post conflict reconstruction and

development

9. Role of Private Sector in

reconstruction:

a. While there are mostly

foreign private sector

investments in CAR,

there is need to

Facilitate and promote private sector investment in the

country through adopting measures and institutions such as

reviving the Chamber of Commerce and policies for easing

ways of doing business

39

consolidate, support and

harness local investors

whose profits could be

reaped back to

reconstruct the country

Undertake policy and legislative interventions to settle

domestic debt through refinancing and spur

entrepreneurship and local investment opportunities

Democratic Governance

1 Constitutionalism, Justice

and Rule of Law:

a. A new Constitution

which provides for

separation of powers was

adopted by the

Transitional Authorities

on 30 August 2015 and

endorsed through a

popular National

Referendum in

December 2015

The State should embrace and promote a culture of the rule

of law, human rights and accountable governance

Strengthen and enhance the capacity of institutions that

safeguard and uphold democratic governance and play a

watch-dog and oversight role of Executive functions the

judiciary and Parliament including capacity building,

including training and support with enacting enabling

legislation to implement the Constitution

Undertake civic education to popularize the New

Constitution among ordinary citizens, security sector and

public officials through advocacy, media engagement and

popular versions of the Constitutions especially the Bill of

Rights

b. While CAR has adopted

numerous laws, they

need to be aligned and

reformed to ensure

consistency with the New

Constitution and the post

conflict reconstruction

and development agenda

of the Government

Adopt implementation legislation; legal reforms and

institutional re-building

c. The lack of state

authority across the

country is reflected in the

limited capacity,

integrity, credibility

scope and availability of

judicial functions beyond

Bangui and major urban

centres

Devolve power to local government authorities and

enhance the capacity of community justice systems in

compliance with international human rights standards

d. CAR judiciary lacks

independence, diversity

and capacity to dispense

fair justice and is in need

of structural and

substantive reforms

Undertake judicial reforms including where necessary

vetting and lustration of judicial officers involved in

corruption

40

e. The country does not

have a legal aid scheme

to enhance access to

justice for indigent

populations the majority

of whom are victims of

human rights abuses

Adopt and implement a national legal aid scheme

Undertake civil education to sensitize and popularize the

Bill of Rights

f. Prisons and detention

centers are overcrowded

and do not meet

minimum standards for

penitential institutions

Undertake penal reforms in compliance with international

standards

Enhance the capacity of the prisons systems in terms of

infrastructure and improve conditions of detention and

welfare of prison warders

2 Sovereignty and legitimacy

of the Government and

State Authority:

a. A legitimate Government

was elected and took

office in March 2016

Support and enhance the capacity of the Government to

deliver and implement its priorities as set out in the Bangui

National Forum and the President’s inaugural speech

b. The New Government

functions and capacity is

limited to Bangui largely

due to insecurity and lack

of resources to extend

and devolve government

services to the

Prefectures and rural

areas

Support expansion of State authority cross the entire

country through adoption and support for devolved and

local governance and administration.

Undertake a strategic review and develop a draft framework

for mainstreaming gender) into the security organs. An

expected outcome would be an enhanced understanding of

gender in peace and security, and increased gender

representation and participation in peace and security

processes in the country, and enhanced formative and

oversight roles of the government and relevant

stakeholders.

c. The Government is still

reliant on MINUSCA and

French Forces for

protection of its strategic

installations and officials

CAR should be supported technically and resource wise to

rebuild a national defence and security force (FACA,

Gendarmerie and Police) of their own government and

citizens, and installations in order to revive national pride,

patriotism, sovereignty and legitimacy of the State

d. The country’s capacity

and ability to police and

secure its borders is

obsolete beyond the

airport and major transit

border points given the

fact that its security

forces particularly FACA

is severely constrained

pending SSR

Undertake comprehensive SSR s and reconstitute a diverse,

multi ethnic, regionally balanced, inclusive and

representative Republican FACA, gendarmerie and police

force including forest guards and border police.

3 Managing Diversity

(Ethnic and Religious): Adopt policies, initiatives and programmes to foster and

manage the country’s rich diversity including through

schools, public service, security sectors reforms and public

appointments

41

a. CAR has rich and diverse

population of about 4.6

Million people

b. The two main armed

groups during the last

conflict were fractured

along religious lines-

Seleka mainly Muslims

an Anti-Balaka who are

mainly Christian

Promote interreligious dialogue towards national healing

and reconciliation and national unity

c. While there is marked

progress in

acknowledging religious

diversity in CAR as

exemplified by the recent

election of a Muslim as

the Speaker of Parliament

and appointment of 4

Muslim Cabinet

Ministers much more

needs to be done to

recognize and foster

religious diversity and

tolerance of CAR

Promote religious tolerance through civic education,

education and interreligious partnership and collaboration

as well as public recognition of the religious diversity of the

society

4 Public Service and

Administration:

a. Public and civil service

was severely affected by

the conflict with many

Government

infrastructure and public

records looted or

destroyed

Rebuild the public service through establishment of a

public service commission and reconstruct and restore

public records

b. The capacity of the civil

service is hampered by

brain drain and high

levels of illiteracy in

CAR

Adopt policies and incentives to attract the diaspora to

return and invest in the country including creating

incentives tax breaks and attractive remuneration and

conditions of service

c. Terms of Service of the

public service in CAR are

poor with civil servant in

past going for months

without pay, some which

are still owing, lack of

promotion, retirement

Review terms and conditions of service in the public sectors

and adopt a performance management scheme which is

gender-sensitive

42

and pension schemes and

related incentives

5 Local Governance and

Devolution:

a. State Authority in CAR is

limited to Bangui and

major urban centres.

Local and devolved

governance and

administration in CAR is

almost non-existent with

national authorizes being

responsible for all forms

of service delivery

including revenue

collection - which is

largely lacking of

essential services

Adopt devolved and local governance as a model for

decentralizing governance and socio-economic service

delivery

Advocate for the inclusion of women in local development

and infrastructure programmes and involve them directly in

setting priorities, identifying beneficiaries and monitoring

implementation.

6 Human Rights and

Transitional Justice:

a. While the New

Constitution provides for

a Bill of Rights, human

rights violations and

abuses at the hands of

state security agents and

non-state actors is

rampant

Undertake, advocacy training, awareness and sensitization

to citizens on the Bill of Rights and train the security sector

and public official on human rights protection and

promotion

Encourage the participation of women at all stages of the

peace processes as part of national reconciliation, in all

initiatives aimed at reconstruction and in the transitional

justice process, and especially at the decision-making level

Establish a National Human Rights Commission, as

proposed by the Bangui National Forum

Establish a Truth, Justice, Reparations and Reconciliation

Commission, as proposed by the Bangui National Forum

7 Addressing Impunity,

Corruption and

Accountability:

a. Numerous international

crimes were committed

during the conflict in

CAR between 2013 and

2015

Document and investigate crimes and atrocities that were

committed before and during the conflict and identify

possible perpetrators and victims towards accountability,

reparations and psychosocial support

Establish a Special Court for Accountability of

International Crimes committed during the conflict

b. There has been no

accountability

mechanism and

processes to address

impunity for those crimes

in CAR given the near

total collapse of the

judicial functions during

the conflict

Undertake justice and judicial reforms and rehabilitate the

country’s prosecutorial and judicial functions and explore

the applicability of traditional and community justice

systems

43

c. Corruption remains a

major problem affecting

service delivery in CAR

Address impunity and corruption by establishing a specific

mechanism dedicated to rooting out corruption

8 Elections, Popular

Participation and Inclusion

of Citizens:

a. Despite some challenges

the National Elections

Authority conducted a

successful and inclusive

Constitutional

Referendum and Free and

Fair General Elections

Strengthen and enhance the independence, capacity of the

National Elections Authority

b. The Bangui Forum

exemplified what is

possible when a nation is

united in finding durable

home grown and owned

solutions to the

challenges facing CAR in

terms of inclusion,

participation and

engagement of all

stakeholders

Adopt enabling legislation to facilitate access to

information and establish an office of the public

protector/ombudsman

Establish mechanisms and processes for regular and

structured public engagement between the state and citizens

on matters of national and local interest

c. Youth, Women and

CSOs still remain at the

margins of state

rebuilding processes

Adopt affirmative action measures and provisions to ensure

gender parity as well enhance participation of women and

youth in governance and advocate for including women in

local development and infrastructure programmes.

Build capacity of, and provide safe spaces for, youth and

women to form and run effective organizations, councils to

enhance their participation in civil society so as to increase

their participation in monitoring, or influencing governance

of their country.

9 Humanitarian Assistance –

Refugees and Internally

Displaced Peoples:

a. The recent conflict

displaced about 500,000

central African citizens

most of whom are still

refugees in neighboring

countries

Promote local integration of refugees and IDPs and in concert with neighbouring countries to improve regional peace and security to facilitate resettlement and return of refugees

Create conditions conducive for the stabilization of the

country, including through restoration of security, and

promotion of mutual tolerance and national reconciliation,

44

in order to pave way for the peaceful return and

reintegration of the Central African regions.

Ensure that internally displaced persons and refugees have the right to return to their places of residence and to enjoy other benefits as nationals of the Central African Republic

Take measures to guarantee the safe return of internally displaced persons and refugees, including by securing their places of origin and their property

In humanitarian assistance programmes and programming decisions, take full account of the needs of people living with disabilities

a. Over 400,000 persons

remain internally displaced

due to the conflict as well as

due to foreign armed groups

especially the LRA. They are

traumatized, living at

survival level and are yet to

be resettled in their

communities of origin or be

relocated.

Implement quick impact projects for IDPs in areas of health

including psycho-social support, water, sanitation,

community income-generating projects and indigenous

justice mechanisms

b. Access for humanitarian

assistance is hampered by

inaccessibility of most of the

hinterland of CAR due to

poor roads and infrastructure

Rehabilitate all the key routes in the hinterland and linking

with neighboring countries in order to improve access for

the delivery of services, enhancement of trade, easy

movement of persons and protection of the population

including from cross-border threats.

Security

1. Security Sector Reforms:

a. The Bangui Forum

proposed comprehensive

Security Sector Reforms

targeting the military

(FACA), the police,

gendarmerie, Border

Security and Forest

Guards

Undertake holistic and integrated security sector reforms especially reconstituting a multi ethnic inclusive and republican army, gendarmerie and police force

Put in place a programme of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration adapted to children; consider professional apprenticeships for the reintegration of juvenile offenders who have been given light sentences and/or who have served their sentences

Combat trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder in children by establishing after-school support groups, training specialized school counsellors, improving school security and ensuring that schools are not used by any armed forces; and establish programmes to raise parents’ awareness of the issue of sexual violence against children

45

b. The FACA is literally

non-existent, with the

few remaining officers

incapacitated, lack a

proper command

structure, weapons,

training, uniforms, and

resources to deploy

Pursuant to the President’s vision (inauguration speech of

30 March 2016), fast-track the envisaged SSR and DDRR

process for the country to pave way for the rebuilding of a

professional, apolitical, multi-ethnic republican national

army constituted of soldiers recruited inclusively from all

the ethnic groups in the country.

c. There has been no clear

delineation of duties

between the military,

gendarmerie and police

force

Delineated mandates, and command structures of the

security forces

d. The Forest Guard have

mostly abandoned their

posts due to the high level

of insecurity in the

forests and have limited

if any capacity to prevent

poaching and illegal

exploitation of the forests

Reestablish, capacitate and equip the Forest Guards with

necessary tools and incentives to curb poaching and protect

the country wildlife and forest resources

2. Public Order and Security

a. Provision of security

even for Government

officials and installations

in the country is mostly

under MINUSCA as

much as MINUSCA

mandate does not include

restoring public order –

which is a responsibility

of state security agents

Reconstitute the FACA, the gendarmerie, and police forces

b. Apart from a few secured

places in Bangui, human

and personal security in

CAR is still precarious

with armed groups and

criminal elements

controlling large sections

of the country

Deploy the reconstituted police and gendarmerie to secure

civilians and expand their reach to the rural areas

Promote community policing and security

46

c. Human rights abuses

especially sexual and

gender based violence in

CAR is prevalent at the

hands of security forces

and non-state actors

Develop a national strategy which should aim to address

sexual and gender-based violence in CAR to provide a

common approach and guidance for the government to

effectively address SGBV. It represents a systematic and

coordinated, regional intervention that involves all relevant

sectors, structures and communities to jointly turn back the

tide of SGBV. The strategy will ensure that the necessary

mechanisms are instituted, resources allocated and political

will cultivated to address SGBV. An expected outcome is

an increased understanding of gender, peace and security

issues resulting in more effective, efficient and gender

responsive peace and security sectors where the needs and

interests of both men and women are met.

Conduct training and capacity building within the security

forces on human rights and humanitarian law

d. State – civic relations are

poor and adversarial due

to abuse of the citizens by

state and non-state

security agents which

requires rebuilding of

public trust, confidence

and image of the security

service

Promote military - civic relations through community

public works and policing

3. Reconstituting and Role of

FACA:

a. An arms embargo is in

place which means that

reconstituting FACA will

require concerted efforts

and cooperation from AU

and Member States

working within the ambit

of the UNSC Sanctions

regime

Advocate for flexibility and partial lifting of the arms

embargo in line with ongoing SSR reforms

b. Given the large territory

and limited capacity of

the FACA even when

reconstituted to cover the

entire expanse of the

country, its role should be

redefined to serve a

modern development and

reconstruction army

Redefine the role of the FACA in CAR to take a more

developmental mandate towards reconstruction

47

c. FACA as currently

constituted is largely a

byproduct of several

failed DDR initiatives

and is marred by

corruption, human rights

abuses, incompetence,

indiscipline, ethnic and

regional imbalance and

does not reflect the face

and needs of the country

Reconstitute the court martials, disciplinary procedure, and

where necessary restructure serving FACA including

retirement and reconstitution a Republic multi ethnic army

4. Disarmament,

Demobilization and

Reintegration:

a. The country has so far

undertaken 3 DDRR

programmes since

independence; those

programmes were mostly

unsuccessful

Conduct a critical assessment and evaluation of why despite

three (3) past DDRR efforts in CAR they were largely

unsuccessful in order to tease out lessons learnt and ensure

that the proposed DDRR programme has positive impact

and results

Implement a nationally-owned and African-led

Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration program

for the various armed groups, notably anti-Balaka and ex-

Seleka.

b. DDRR and SSR have not

been systematically

linked in CAR

Embark on a coordinated and systematically linked national

owned and led gender-sensitive DDRR programmes with

SSR

c. DDRR initiatives

undertaken in the past

have excluded non-

combatants especially

youth and women

Undertake inclusive, participatory and nationally owned, led and participatory and gender-sensitive DDRR Programme that will go hand in hand with SSR

Ensure that no child acts on behalf of a militia. Children released or separated from armed groups are victims and should receive special protection

Continue efforts towards reopening schools and rehabilitating hospitals and health centres; protect those institutions and put an end to their use for military purposes

5. Cross border/regional

Security issues:

a. Armed groups such as

LRA and transnational

criminal networks

continue destabilizing the

countryside, and

competing for access to,

as well as control of,

mines (gold, diamond)

and commercial centres

Strengthen the AU Regional Cooperation Initiative for the

Elimination of the LRA (RCI-LRA) by focusing the main

effort on CAR which is the group’s current centre of

gravity, and by broadening its mandate to include the

neutralization of all armed negative groups operating in its

area of responsibility.

Impose and enforce targeted sanctions and strengthen

enforcement against individuals and entities perpetrating

insecurity, violence and criminality in the country, in

collaboration with regional neighbours.

48

where they collect illegal

taxes, trade in minerals

and traffic wildlife

products including ivory

to finance their war

efforts

Restart the Kimberly process to enable the government

boost its economy with legitimate revenues, while

preventing conflict diamonds from armed groups and

criminals.

b. Foreign armed groups

such as the LRA and

Janjaweed Militia who

have caused

displacement of civilians,

abductions and

recruitment of child

soldiers and atrocities to

local population

Strengthen the regional fight against the LRA, and other

armed groups in eastern CAR, including through the

lobbying of the UN to authorize the creation of an African-

led Special Intervention Brigade within MINUSCA.

c. Cross border and regional

security cooperation

among some of CAR

neighbours is inadequate

and needs to be fostered

with strengthened

diplomatic relations and

security cooperation

Enhance preventive diplomacy and conflict prevention

aimed at promoting good neighbourliness and regional

cooperation between/among CAR’s neighbours

6. Private Security:

a. CAR’s private security

companies especially in

the protection of the

country’s natural

resources is still

unregulated and a cause

for concern

Regulate and ensure oversight of the country’s private

security industry

Cross-cutting Issues

1. Youth Inclusion,

Participation and

Empowerment:

a. Youth Constitute

approximately 72% of

the 4.6 estimated

population of the

country, 80 % of whom

are uneducated

Harness the demographic dividend of the country by

recognizing and adopting specific measures to empower

and avail education, technical and vocations skills

acquisition and entrepreneurship opportunities for the

youth in CAR

Advocate for including women and youth in national and

local development and infrastructure programmes, and

involve them in setting priorities, identifying beneficiaries

and monitoring implementation.

b. Lack of education, lack

of jobs and access to

opportunities for

productive engagement

leaves most youth

vulnerable and easy prey

Invest in the education of the affected children; establish

catch-up educational programs, including literacy and

mathematical skills to enable former child soldiers and

disadvantaged women and former abductees to attain basic

literacy.

49

for recruitment by armed

and criminal groups

Provide vocational skills training provide or improve the

quality of existing schools so as to assure a better and secure

learning environment

c. Youth are not adequately

represented in Parliament

or in Executive functions

Adopt affirmative action measures to harnesses the country

demographic dividend measures and ensure adequate

representation of youth in governance processes and

institutions

2. Women Inclusion,

Participation and

Empowerment:

a. Women in CAR bear the

brunt of the conflict as

victims

Adopt policies and mechanisms to address the

marginalization and exclusion of women in CAR including

to address the effects of the impact of conflict including

through education, and special designed programmes

recognising the role of women

Establish a system to guarantee a minimum representation

of women among members of parliament and offer

incentives to political parties to put forward women

candidates

b. While there is notable

progress in the

representation of women

in Parliament with about

15 out of 115 MPs and 4

out of 23 Cabinet

Ministers, much more

needs to be done to

ensure gender equity and

representation

Adopt gender empowerment legislation and establish a Gender Commission

c. The country does not

have affirmative action

mechanism and measures

to redress pervasive

gender inequality

Adopt affirmative action measures and provisions on

gender empowerment and representation in socio economic

and governance institutions and processes including in

mediation, SSR and DDRR There is growing evidence that

large-scale investment in women’s economic

empowerment generates immediate and long-term social

dividends, including in post-conflict situations

d. Women have largely

been left out of peace

processes including

mediation, political

negotiations and DDRR

as well as SSR reform

processes

Support and ensure that women are included, participate

and lead reconciliation, accountability, peace processes

including mediation dialogue DDRR and SSR programmes

3. Addressing and

Accountability for Sexual

and Gender Based Crimes

and Violence:

a. CAR does not have a

gender legal and policy

Adopt a gender and legal policy in gender empowerment and equality

Establish a system to guarantee a minimum representation of women among members of parliament and offer incentives to political parties to put forward women candidate.

50

framework to address

gender inequality and

empowerment

The proposed judicial reform should dedicate resources to

gender justice, dedicating its approach and methodologies

to women’s priorities and needs

b. There is presently no

state led accountability

mechanism for sexual

and gender based

violence against women

in CAR

According to reports by the AU, UN, and civil society

organization many cases, violence and insecurity continue

or even increase for women including youth and children,

largely due to impunity, the absence of effective justice

systems and an unreformed security sector. Re-establishing

the rule of law is pertinent to women’s security, protection

of rights, and, ultimately, an equitable and sustainable

peace.

Violence against women and girls in the CAR is still rooted

in gender-based discrimination and social norms and

gender stereotypes that perpetuate such violence. Given the

devastating effect violence has had on women, efforts by

international partners such as the UN Women have mainly

focused on responses and services for survivors. A national

policy needs to be adopted based on a conflict prevention

approach which places a strong focus on prevention

through the promotion of gender equality, women’s

empowerment and their enjoyment of human rights.

In the long-term, an effective strategy to end violence

against women and girls is to prevent it from happening in

the first place by addressing its root and structural causes.

Therefore, responses need to factor this aspect into

planning, implementation and monitoring

The proposed judicial reform should dedicate resources to

gender justice, dedicating its approach and methodologies

to women’s priorities and needs

Undertake, investigations, prosecutions and accountability

for sexual and gender based violence

Develop a national strategy which should aim to address

sexual and gender-based violence in CAR to provide a

common approach and guidance for the government to

effectively address SGBV. It represents a systematic and

coordinated, regional intervention that involves all relevant

sectors, structures and communities to jointly turn back the

tide of SGBV. The strategy will ensure that the necessary

mechanisms are instituted, resources allocated and political

will cultivated to address SGBV. An expected outcome is

an increased understanding of gender, peace and security

issues resulting in more effective, efficient and gender

responsive peace and security sectors where the needs and

interests of both men and women are met.

Undertake, sensitization and promotion of the rights of

women including training of security actors to prevent

sexual and gender based violence.

51

Annexure 3: Executive summary in French

Évaluation des Besoins Pour la Reconstruction et le Développement Post-Conflit

République Centrafricaine

Rapport de Mission – Résumé

7-17 Août 2016

Résumé

1. A la demande de la Commission de l'Union Africaine (CUA) et conformément à une

Résolution du Conseil de Paix et de Sécurité de l'UA lors de sa 612 éme Réunion tenue le

26 Juillet 2016, une équipe d'experts a procédé à une évaluation des besoins sur la

reconstruction post-conflit et le développement en République Centrafricaine (RCA) du 7

au 17 Août 2016. Les principales conclusions de l'évaluation sont les suivantes:

2. Sécurité

a. La situation sécuritaire reste fragile avec la prévalence des violations des droits de

l'homme, l'incidence de flambée de violence, la tension et la criminalité dans tout le

pays. La situation est aggravée par le manque d'autorité de l'Etat dans la plupart des

régions du pays, ce qui se traduit l’apathie de la population des civils en général; la

frustration et l'émergence de groupes de miliciens armés auto-assistés, le banditisme et

la criminalité comme un moyen et un moyen de survie.

b. Une incapacité notoire est observée au niveau des forces de défense et de sécurité de

RCA avec désertion, l'indiscipline et le manque d'équipements, des uniformes, des

armes ainsi que des structures de commandement appropriées qui a sévèrement restreint

leur aptitude à se déployer et assurer la sécurité. Bien que des efforts sont en cours pour

entreprendre des réformes du secteur de sécurité ainsi que des programmes de DDRR

dans une esprit d’appropriation nationale, les sanctions et l’embargo des armes du

Conseil de Sécurité des NU limite sévèrement l’aptitude actuelle des forces de sécurité

de RC et leur capacité à assurer la sécurité, la MINUSCA devant combler le vide , bien

qu’il ait un mandat limité quant à la protection des civils et des infrastructures

stratégiques du gouvernement et les fonctionnaires.

c. Les groupes armés notamment les anciens éléments Séléka et Anti-Balaka continuent

de contrôler de vastes territoires du pays, y compris les zones riches en ressources

naturelles, collectant des taxes illégales, entraînant l'intimidation et commettant des

violations des droits de l’homme et des atrocités graves au sein des populations civiles.

d. L’armée de résistance du Seigneur (“Lord Resistance Army” -LRA) reste une menace

importante pour la paix et la sécurité. Le résultat a été le déplacement interne des

populations civiles, le recrutement des enfants soldats, les enlèvements de femmes, le

pillage, la destruction de biens, des violations des droits de l'homme, des atrocités et la

52

violence sexuelle basée sur le genre et une partie de la population forcée à se réfugier

en dehors du pays.

3. Gouvernance Démocratique

a. Pour donner un sens et une efficacité à la nouvelle dispensation constitutionnelle, les

réformes juridiques et institutionnelles doivent être entreprises afin d'aligner les

nouvelles lois avec les priorités stratégiques du Gouvernement pour la reconstruction et

le développement post-conflit. Ces priorités sont les suivantes: la paix, la réconciliation

et la sécurité; restauration du contrat social entre l'État et la population; et la reprise

économique et le renforcement des secteurs productifs.

b. La plupart des institutions de gouvernance démocratique ou qui assurent la prestation

des services publics en RCA en particulier la sécurité, le service public, la gouvernance

locale, judiciaire, pénale, la santé, sont sévèrement frappés d'incompétence. L'accès à

ces facilites et services par les citoyens est gravement entravé par le manque

d'infrastructures telles que les routes, l'électricité et le fait qu'il y ait une absence

d'autorité de l'Etat pour garantir la sécurité.

c. Des violations des droits de l'homme et les atrocités liées en particulier à la violence

sexuelle basée sur le genre en RCA sont s surtout par des groupes armés et les gangs

criminels mais il existe également de graves allégations d'abus de violence sexuelle par

des agents de sécurité de l'Etat, les troupes Françaises de l’opération Sangaris et de la

MINUSCA.

d. L'Assemblée nationale n’a pas dans le passé, joué son important rôle de contrôle de

l’Exécutif. La nouvelle Constitution exige expressément au Parlement d'exercer avec

diligence son rôle de contrôle, en vertu du principe de la séparation des pouvoirs, de

l’action gouvernementale y compris en ce qui concerne la signature des contrats par le

Président et le Premier Ministre en rapport avec la gestion des ressources naturelles du

pays. Le fort taux d'analphabétisme existant dans le pays signifie également qu’il y a

des membres du Parlement qui n’ont pas l'éducation requise et donc manquent la

capacité de passer des lois et jouer leur rôle de contrôle de l’Exécutif.

e. La situation humanitaire en RCA reste désastreuse. Plus de 2 millions des 4,6 millions

de Centrafricains sont tributaires de l'aide humanitaire à l'intérieur et à l'extérieur des

frontières du pays. Il y a plus de 400 000 personnes déplacées en RCA et plus 460.000

réfugiés dans les pays voisins.

4. Développement Socio-Economique

a. Malgré ses riches ressources naturelles, la population du pays est l'une des plus pauvres

du monde. En effet la croissance économique enregistrée durant les trois dernières

décennies est autour de 2% par an tandis que la population croit à 2,5% par an. En 2015

les revenues fiscales annuelles se seraient élevées à une somme dérisoire de $ 100,6

Millions ne pouvant donc pas couvrir même les dépenses primaires d'environ 181

Millions de Dollars US. Le pays dépend plus de l'aide des bailleurs de fonds pour

financer son déficit budgétaire, y compris les dépenses courantes, les dépenses

d’investissement et de développement.

53

b. L'accès aux services socio-économiques de base est fortement limité par le manque de

ressources financières et humaines ainsi que de la capacité de l'État à fournir des

services.

c. Le manque d'autorité de l'État sur l'ensemble du territoire, ainsi que le manque de

sécurité et l’incapacité de gérer efficacement toutes ses frontières, a facilité des activités

de contrebande ainsi que des sorties illicites de ressources financières et naturelles.

d. Le manque d'infrastructures devant faciliter l'accès et l’ouverture vers l'arrière-pays à

travers les routes et de l'énergie a exacerbé la situation sécuritaire en RCA ainsi que la

marginalisation continue et l'exclusion des communautés rurales qui n'accèdent pas aux

services socio-économiques de base.

5. Questions Transversales

a. Le manque d'éducation, d'emploi et d'accès à des opportunités dans les secteurs

productifs laisse la plupart des jeunes en proie à la vulnérabilité et à la merci pour le

recrutement facile par des groupes armés et criminels.

b. Les femmes en RCA ont porté le poids du conflit en tant que victimes et des survivants,

mais en grande partie restent faiblement représentées dans les processus de

reconstruction du pays. Le pays ne dispose pas de mécanismes et de mesures pour

remédier à l'inégalité du genre qui est grandissante. Le plus préoccupant est le fait que

les femmes ont été largement exclues des processus de paix, y compris la médiation, les

négociations politiques et DDRR ainsi que les processus de RSS.

6. Principales Recommandations Adressées à l’Union Africaine

a. Organiser une conférence de solidarité africaine à Addis Ababa, Ethiopie , avant la

Conférence des partenaires en Novembre 2016 a Brussels pour mobiliser la contribution

bilatérale des pays Africains et le secteur prive Africain en vue d’appuyer les efforts de

reconstruction de la RCA y compris l’identification des initiatives stratégique en matière

de développement des infrastructures et la mise en commun des expertises Africaines

nécessaires.

b. Appuyer et orienter les efforts internationaux de réduction de la levée des sanctions

imposées sur la RCA y compris la reprise du processus de cerfication des exportations

de diamant ( Process de Kimberly) ainsi que la levée partielle des sanctions des NU

contre les armes pour faciliter la reconstitution de l’armée de la RCA, de la gendarmerie,

de la police et accompagner le processus DDRR et la réforme des services de sécurité

qui doivent s’opérer de façon holistique, participative avec une appropriation nationale

, mais également mobiliser les pays membres de l’Union Africaine pour qu’ils coopèrent

à travers le régime des sanctions des Nations Unies en vue de fournir à la RCA les outils

de formation , les armes, et expertise nécessaires à cet effet.

c. Faciliter le dialogue avec les pays voisins pour la promotion de la paix et la sécurité

régionale en vue de réduire et éliminer les menaces de sécurité externes à la RCA.

d. Développer une politique et une plateforme juridique en vue de l’établissement des

memoranda d’entente pendant la transmission des opérations de maintien de la paix de

54

l’Union Africaine vers les missions des Nations Unies pour faciliter la synergie, la

coopération et la complémentarité dans les domaines de coopération future ainsi que

l’appui au bureau de liaison de l’Union Africaine en termes de transport, services

médicaux, partage des informations , la maintenance des équipements ainsi que les

évacuations médicales et de sécurité.

e. Revoir la structure actuelle des bureaux de liaison de l’Union Africaine en Afrique

centrale (Tchad, Burundi, RDC, RCA) en vue d’une meilleure coopération et

coordination et si nécessaire une consolidation des capacités pour améliorer l’efficience

et l’efficacité et créer un plus grand impact dans les conditions actuelles de précarité

de ressources.

f. Augmenter les capacités et l’expertise mise à la disposition de la RCA à travers la

MISCA dans les domaines de la justice transitionnelle notamment dans l’établissement

de la Commission nationale des droits de l’homme, de la Commission , vérité, justice,

réparation et réconciliation et de la Cour pénale spéciale.

g. Identifier et développer un projet pilote en RCA sur les dividendes démographiques en

rapport avec le thème de l’Union Africaine de l’année 2017 qui pourrait inclure la

formation professionnelle, le rôle de la jeunesse dans le processus démocratique et la

consolidation de la paix, l’éducation et le développement des opportunités d’emploi

pour la jeunesse en milieu rural en particulier.

h. Identifier et mettre en œuvre à travers le groupe de travail interdépartemental de la

Commission de l’Union africaine sur la reconstruction post conflit des projets d’impact

rapide ou de consolidation de la paix dans les différents domaines prioritaires de la RCA

et cela en collaboration avec le Représentant Spécial de la Présidente de la Commission

de l’Union Africaine en RCA.

i. Développer à travers la représentation spéciale de l’Union Africaine en RCA en

collaboration et en partenariat avec la CEEAC une stratégie de mettre en œuvre, de

suivre et de rendre compte sur la mise en œuvre, les faiblesses et opportunités qu’offre

la reconstruction post conflit en RCA.

7. Recommandations adressées au Gouvernement de la RCA

a. S’assurer de la complémentarité, la synergie et la coordination entre les manières de

conduire la DDRR et la Réforme des services de sécurité avec une attention particulière

aux besoins d’appropriation des deux processus ainsi que l’inclusion et la participation

de toutes les parties prenantes y compris les jeunes et femmes non combattantes.

b. Renforcer la coopération, la collaboration et les bonnes relations entre les pays voisins

pour atteindre la paix et la sécurité régionale en réduisant les menaces dues à

l’infiltration des groupes armés étrangers. S’assurer que dans ces efforts de

reconstitution de ses capacités militaires, la RCA attache une attention particulière à la

sécurisation de ses frontières pour contribuer à la paix et la sécurité régionale.

c. Considérer favorablement en collaboration avec l’Union Africaine l’adoption d’un

mécanisme régional de partage d’informations en matière de sécurité similaire aux

processus de Nouakchott et de Djibouti pour le Sahel et l’Afrique de l’Est

55

respectivement pour mieux coordonner les efforts pour combattre les menaces

d’extrémisme violent et autres crimes transfrontaliers dans le pays et dans la région.

d. Mettre en œuvre les dispositions pertinentes de la Constitution et entreprendre des

réformes institutionnelles nécessaires en vue d’atteindre les objectifs de reconstruction

et de développement. Ce faisant, adhérer au principe de séparation des pouvoirs

législatifs, exécutifs et judiciaires en vue d’assurer le contrôle approprié , le devoir de

rendre compte et la réalisation effective des aspirations du peuple centrafricain. Il s’agit

de mettre en œuvre les recommandations du Forum de Bangui en matière de lutte contre

l’impunité, l’unité nationale et la réconciliation à travers la mise en place de la

Commission nationale des droits de l’homme, de Commission vérité, justice, réparation

et réconciliation et de la cour pénale spéciale.

e. S’assurer que les troupes de maintien de la paix répondent de leurs actes en cas de

violation des droits de l’homme et des actes de violence sexuelle.

f. Renforcer les relations entre l’Etat et la population à travers la décentralisation,

l’éducation civique, et les cadres d’interactions au sujet des services socio-économiques

à la population, la police de proximité, et l’implication de l’armée dans les activités

communautaires et le développement des infrastructures à travers les initiatives de

« l’armée de production » ou la promotion des « centres de développement ».

g. Elargir la base taxable à tous les secteurs économiques y compris les secteurs miniers,

agricoles et manufacturiers. Impliquer les autorités locales dans l’amélioration de la

collecte des revenues publiques et la discipline fiscale et renforcer les services des

douanes dans la lutte contre la corruption, la fraude, les transferts financiers illicites et

l’exploitation illicite des ressources naturelles.

8. Recommandations adressées aux Communautés Régionales

a. La Commission de l’Union Africaine devrait en collaboration avec la CEEAC et le

COMESA étendre le projet pilote sur la coopération transfrontalière financé par la

Banque allemande KFW à la RCA en vue d’améliorer le commerce et la sécurité

transfrontalière et la coopération entre les pays voisins de la RC.

b. La CEMAC et la CEEAC devraient coopérer avec le FMI dans la mise en place des

mécanismes tendant à substituer les pertes de revenues sur les taxes à l’importation dues

aux exigences des régimes d’intégration régionale à travers une amélioration de la

taxation indirecte et tout autre mécanisme de compensation.

9. Recommandations adressées aux Pays Membre de l’Union Africaine

a. Renforcer la sécurité transfrontalière à travers des arrangements bilatéraux en matière

de sécurité et d’échange de renseignements à travers les relations diplomatiques, la

gestion des douanes et des services de gestion de frontières.

b. Offrir et faciliter l’échange d’expériences en faveur de la RCA en matière de

reconstruction post conflit.

56

c. Mettre à la disposition des experts et des moyens financiers à la RCA dans les domaines

clefs de DDRR, la réforme des services de sécurité, la gouvernance démocratique, la

gouvernance locale, les services publics, la justice, la gestion commerciale et le

développement des infrastructures.

10. Recommandations adressées au Secteur Privé

a. Mobiliser des ressources financières et humaines en vue de la reconstruction de la RCA

dans les domaines des infrastructures, de l’énergie, des transports, de la communication

et de l’exploitation des ressources naturelles.

b. Inclure systématiquement dans les projets publics exécutés par les entreprises privées

une composante de formation des cadres et ouvriers centrafricains pour assurer

l’augmentation du capital humain centrafricain.

c. Mettre en œuvre des programmes répondant au principe de responsabilité sociale des

entreprises pouvant couvrir les domaines sociaux ou les actions d’intérêt

communautaire comme les ponts.

11. Recommandations adressées à la Communauté Internationale

a. Agir comme de véritables garants de la stabilisation de la RCA à travers la MINUSCA

et développer de concert avec les autorités centrafricaines une stratégie de paix et

sécurité durable et amener progressivement la RCA à assumer entièrement ses

prérogatives régaliennes en matière de sécurité.

b. Appuyer la reconstruction de la RC avec des moyens adéquats et débourser les fonds

promis de façon rapide de façon à éviter que les dividendes de la paix ne tardent pas a

être accessibles.

57

Annexure 4 – References

1. Rapport du Forum de Bangui, Mai 2015

2. Rapport de la mission d’experts multidisciplinaire en République Centrafricaine, 3-15

Avril 2006

3. Rapport du Secrétaire General des NU sur la situation en République Centrafricaine,

1 Avril 2016

4. Soffies Scoffer, Emeline Ferrier, Mia Marie Olsen, Miranda, Schusterman, Monika,

Norkute, Nature et formes de la violence , causes du conflit en RCA, Grenoble 2014

5. Report on the sensitization workshop on DDRR in CAR , Addis Ababa , Ethiopia,

25-26 November 2015

6. Preliminary assessment of stabilization and rehabilitation needs of LRA affected areas

in CAR, October- December 2012

7. Report on the AU-UN-EU- and African security sector network assessment on the

security sector in CAR, 18-26 May 2014

8. Lettre du Gouvernement adressée à la Directrice du FMI, 7 Juillet 2016

9. Needs assessment for recovery and peace building in the CAR, Joint Donors scoping

mission, May 2016

10. EU Training Mission in CAR, Fiche de projet de création d’un centre de formation

professionnelle et de reconversion pour les militaires centrafricains, 12 Aout 2016

11. UN/WB PCNA review, January 2007

12. Décrets présidentiels portant création des structures de gestion des programmes

DDRR, RSS et réconciliation 2, Juillet 2016

13. Communique of the 593rd Meeting of the AU PSC, 26 April 2016

14. Communique of the 612th Meeting of the AU PSC, 26 July 2016

15. Inauguration Speech of the CAR President, 30 March 2016

16. Speech of Prime Minister to the Parliament, 7 June 2016