January 28, 2002
The OAU's Central Organ for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution has called on the UN Security Council to seriously consider the deployment of a peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (CAR).
At a meeting in Tripoli, Libya at the weekend, the central organ urged OAU Secretary General Amara Essy to press the UN Security Council for the speedy deployment of such a force.
According to a communique following the meeting that was chaired by Zambian Foreign Affairs minister Katele Kalumba, it was also recommended that appropriate measures be taken to consolidate peace and security in the CAR pending on the deployment of a UN peacekeeping force. The meeting, which expressed concern over what it termed the grave security situation in CAR, stressed that there was need to restore confidence among stakeholders in the nation as part of efforts aimed at achieving lasting peace and stability in the country.
The meeting, which was also attended by CAR President Felix Patasse, called on the international community and OAU member states to provide the necessary technical and financial assistance for the reconstruction and socio-economic development of the troubled country.
According to the communique, the central organ took note of a donors' meeting held in Paris last December, and looked forward to a positive outcome in a planned meeting between the CAR government and the World Bank and IMF.
The central organ also acknowledged a contribution of 1.2 million US dollars from Libya, as well as the decision at a mini-summit of the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (SIN-SAD) in Khartoum last December, to set up a support fund for CAR.
The central organ also called on the Secretary General of the OAU, in collaboration with relevant institutions like the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the African Development Bank (ADB), to examine ways through which the continental body could make contributions to the socio-economic recovery of CAR.
According to the communique released Monday by Zambia's Foreign Affairs ministry, CAR's stakeholders were also enjoined to settle their differences through dialogue.
The communique cited by the Zambian News Agency (ZANA), also reiterated the OAU's rejection of any unconstitutional accession to power anywhere on the continent.
To that end, the central organ paid tribute to the Libya for its timely and prompt action towards the restoration of constitutional order and support of the legitimate government in CAR.
Countries represented at the Tripoli meeting were Zambia, DR Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Gabon, Ghana, Lesotho, Libya, Namibia, South Africa, Senegal, Tanzania and Togo.
Others were Angola, Burundi, Mauritius, Nigeria, Sudan, Tunisia and the Central African Republic.
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