The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General to the Central African Republic and Head of the Integrated Peace-building Office, Margaret Vogt on Friday, March 16, 2012 in Yaounde briefed the Minister of External Relations, Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo on the situation in the Central African Republic.
Margaret Vogt was in Yaounde to discuss with heads of some diplomatic missions accredited to the Central African Republic but based in Yaounde on the situation in that country. She disclosed to the press after meeting Minister Moukoko Mbonjo that focus in the peace-building process in the country should be on security sector reforms, especially disarmament, demobilisation and re-integration of militias.
Concerning the security situation on the ground, the UN Special Representative said there has been a window of opportunities since 2011 with the signing of ceasefire agreements. There is a thaw of the situation in the Central African Republic with calm reported in some parts of the country as some militias are handing in their arms and declaring their readiness for peace. “This calm is fragile and can be consolidated only if concrete resources are deployed in addition to the disarmament and re-integration of the militias,” she stated.
The External Relations Minister also had discussions with the outgoing Representative of United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) to Cameroon, Van Rompaey. Talking to journalists, he said UNIDO has a positive balance sheet in Cameroon as a technical cooperation partner. He said the organisation has enlarged its portfolio in the country and generated trust in partners, some of whom have come in with new projects.
