Africa-Press – Angola. Angola requested, Thursday, support for pacification efforts to end the crisis in the Central African Republic (CAR).
According to a note from the Permanent Mission of Angola to the UN, when intervening in the Panel of Experts (S/2023/87), the chargé d’affaires, João Gimolieca, referred that Angola encourages the work carried out by the panel of experts that highlights the humanitarian situation, the dynamics of armed groups, cross-border flows of weapons and illicit exploitation of natural resources.
Likewise, he advanced that Angola condemns the recent attack on the gold mine that resulted in the death of nine citizens of Chinese nationality and expresses condolences to the families and the Government of the Republic of China.
“Despite all efforts for peace and stability by the CAR Government and stakeholders, the situation in this country remains volatile. The challenges presented in the report and the situation on the ground continue to require the attention of the international community,” he underscored.
The diplomat stated that, despite President Faustin Archange Touadera’s unilateral ceasefire declaration on October 15, 2021, and diplomatic efforts to monitor the Joint Roadmap for Peace in the Central African Republic and the Republican Dialogue of central authorities -African cities, from 21 to 27 March 2022, armed groups continue to jeopardize these efforts.
In this context, he emphasized that Angola condemns all actions of armed groups on the ground, as well as violence against civilians, in particular
women and children, which have resulted in insecurity in areas outside urban centers, where millions of people remain inevitably vulnerable and the their livelihoods are eroding.
With regard to the illicit trade in natural resources, he stressed that it continues to be one of the causes of instability in the CAR, having called for the implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification to prevent the escalation of the armed conflict.
He also called for the protection of the legitimate trade and the guarantee of the effective implementation of the relevant resolutions on the trade in conflict diamonds.
“We therefore call for the establishment of regional instruments for regional cooperation in the mining sector, particularly in the areas of
cross-border trade, infrastructure development and harmonization of mining policy, including tax regimes, so that minerals
can contribute to the economic development of the country and the region, instead of being a source of conflicts that lead to the vicious circle of poverty and the negative impact of conflicts on regional stability”.
As for the humanitarian situation, Angola asked the member states and the international community to support the people of the Central African Republic and neighboring countries to welcome refugees from this region.
João Gimolieca reiterated Angola’s commitment to peace and stability in the region, working closely with the Government of the Central African Republic, regional and sub-regional organizations in the implementation of the Joint Roadmap and within the framework of the Political Plan for Peace and Reconciliation at RCA.
He also appealed to partners to support the Government of this country to achieve the much desired peace and stability in that country, as well as the total lifting of the embargo.
Angola participated in the meeting on the report of the Panel of Experts (S/2023/87) at the invitation of the Chairman of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2127 (2013) on the Central African Republic, the Ambassador of Ghana, Harold Adlai Agyeman.
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