Central African Republic

In 2011, the Central African Republic accomplished significant political milestones, critical to the consolidation of peace. These included successful presidential and parliamentary elections, the creation of a new government, the ceasefire agreements between the Government and the Convention des Patriotes pour la Justice et la Paix (Patriotic Convention for Justice and Peace/CPJP), and between CPJP and the Union des Forces Démocratiques pour le Rassemblement (Union of Democratic Forces for Unity/UFDR).  Disarmament, demobilization and reintegration in the north-west of the country also progressed.

Despite the progress, sporadic clashes between armed groups continue in the north-east and eastern regions where the state is absent and the proliferation of arms is on the rise.  Criminality and banditry continue to plague most of the northern half of the country.  Meanwhile, populations in the south-east, including some 26,000 displaced people, remain confined to a few towns due to the threatening presence of the Lord’s Resistance Army.