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MDRP Central African Republic Activities at a Glance |
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| Finances |
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| Activities |
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| Progress |
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Table last updated August 2009 |
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Background
CAR has experienced a decade of successive coup attempts and army mutinies. When, in 1993, the Patassé government proved unable to consistently provide salaries, continuous strikes by education and health professionals and multiple army mutinies ensued. Patassé survived seven coup attempts during his time in office with the assistance of Libyan troops and the Mouvement de Libération du Congo (MLC) from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. These forces largely withdrew following the December 2002 deployment of peacekeepers from the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC).
On March 15, 2003, General François Bozizé and his followers, supported by troops from Chad, staged a successful coup d'état while Patassé was out of the country. An 18-month transition period was then declared to prepare for general elections and a Conseil National de Transition (CNT) - comprised of political parties and civil society – replaced the dissolved parliament.
In May 2005, parliamentary and presidential elections were held and declared generally free and fair. Bozizé won the elections in the second round and was formally sworn in as president. The security situation remains volatile however as the security forces are weak and still unable to control some areas of the national territory. Violent clashes between the Government and rebel groups, as well as widespread roadblocks and armed banditry continue to affect the north of the territory.
National Program
In the Central African Republic, the national program was structured as a Special Project. See below for details.
Special Projects
Project:
Projet de Réinsertion des Ex-combattants et d'Appui aux Communautés (PRAC)
Administrator:
Government of CAR and United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
Financing:
$9.7 million from MDRP trust fund and $3.3 million from UNDP
Status:Completed
Objective:
The Special Project for the Demobilization and Reintegration of Ex-Combatants project consisted of four main components, two of which supported by MDRP:
- Demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants– The project attempts to create the conditions upon which peace and security can be built, supporting the reintegration of ex-combatants who might otherwise threaten security. These reintegration activities are determined in collaboration with the targeted prefectures, after identifying viable economic options in each prefecture through economic and market analysis. The project supports micro-enterprise projects in vital sectors such as agriculture, mining, reconstruction activities, etc. All ex-combatants receive personalized support and individualized follow-up to ensure the greatest possible success. Families of ex-combatants are involved from the beginning of the reintegration phase.
- Strengthen the capacities of communities of return to ensure a sustainable reintegration of ex-combatants - The successful reintegration of ex-combatants depends upon the capacity of communities to absorb and welcome those returning. The project thus assists in the rehabilitation of social and economic infrastructure, and the creation of income-generating activities, as well as reconciliation and dialogue activities.
Also being implemented, but not supported by MDRP, are activities in:
- Disarmament and reduction of small arms - Exchanging arms for money tends only to feed the black market for firearms. The project therefore instead seeks to provide individuals with economic alternatives to the use of arms.
- Security for development – Provision of targeted aid to combatants, participants in past violence and destruction, can create strong feelings of injustice among the population at large. To counter such feelings, UNDP provides technical, logistical and operational support to local civil society and local administration, helping them identify, prioritize and implement interventions that serve to improve the social tissue of the entire community and create a sense of stability that will promote further development
Overall Progress Table:
Final Progress Update:
- The project is closed - all beneficiaries have received their reintegration kits and training for a chosen reintegration activity.
- An independent evaluation of the PRAC was carried out in October 2007. The findings were shared with the partners and the Government to help inform any potential follow-up activities.
- The Government has launched several new initiatives aimed at facilitating the transition from DDR to broader peace consolidation, including a National Seminar on Security Sector Reform that took place in the spring 2008.
Country Documents
The following documents will help you better understand the country and its context.
Program Documentation:
PRAC program descriptionOther Documents:
Central African Republic: Lessons from a disarmament, demobilization and reintegration program
MDRP Dissemination Note No.4— July - August 2008
English (PDF 879 KB) - Français (PDF 888 KB)
Beyond Demobilization Challenges and Opportunities for Security Sector Reform in the Central African Republic
Working Paper No.2
English (PDF 2.09 MB) Français (partial translation) (PDF 623 KB)
News:
Contacts
World Bank
Boite Postale 872Bangui
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
Contact: MDRP Secretariat
Email: [email protected]
Government Agency
N/A
Relevant Links
These links will help you better understand the country and its context.
Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN): CAR
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP): CAR (in French)
Website links provided on this website are for informational purposes only. Their inclusion does not imply MDRP endorsement of or responsibility for the information included therein.
For any questions regarding MDRP activities please email: [email protected]