The Central African region is preparing to transform its multinational peacekeeping force, which has notably seen action in the troubled Central Africa Republic, in a peace consolidation mission, according to information reaching here.
The Multinational Force Central African Republic (FOMUC) will on Saturday be renamed the Mission for the Consolidation of Peace (MICOPAX) under the authority of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the regional governments said in a statement Thursday.
This peace-building mission, in addition to having combat troops, will henceforth incorporate a civilian branch, which is intended to help with the revival of political dialogue in the Central African Republic, according to the statement.
"A special civilian representative is expected to be appointed to head the transformed mission," Central African Republic Defense Minister Jean-Francois Bozize told reporters during a press briefing in Bangui.
So far, the FOMUC, which has 500 peacekeepers, deployed in the country since 2002, includes contingents from the member states of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC), according to official records.
The mission will now be extended to cover all the member states of the Economic Community of Central Africa States (ECCAS) after the long-delayed proposal received the backing of the Republic of Congo in October 2007, according to reliable sources.
The CEMAC region includes countries such as Chad, Central African Republic, Gabon, Republic of Congo, Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. Created in 1983, ECCAS includes, in addition to these six countries, Angola, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as well as Sao Tome and Principe.
Originally, FOMUC was mooted and designed with the intention of protecting President Ange-Felix Patasse, former head of state of the Central African Republic, who, at the time was facing a rebellion in his country.
After he was overthrown by General Francois Bozize in March 15,2003, the mandate of the mission was transformed into a security mission that was also tasked with reforming and helping the Central African Armed Forces (FACA) in its fight against highway bandits and armed gangs operating in the northern part of the country.
The Central African Republic, a landlocked country among the world's poorest, is also facing a serious financial crisis. The government has launched an all-inclusive dialogue bringing together all parties, including rebels, opposition and the civil society, in a bid to resolve the crisis and pacify the country.
On June 21, two of the three rebel movements still active in the north of the country concluded a "comprehensive peace agreement" with the government. The move is intended to lay the groundwork for the start of "inclusive national dialogue" slated to be officially launched in Bangui on June 8.
Source: Xinhua
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