UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Security Council Wednesday welcomed the signing of a peace deal between the government of the Central African Republic (CAR) and 14 armed groups.
The members of the Security Council considered the signing of this peace agreement on Feb. 6 in the capital city of Bangui as an important step toward lasting peace and stability in the CAR and the full restoration of state authority throughout the country, said the council in a statement.
The members of the Security Council urged the CAR stakeholders to implement the peace agreement in good faith and without delay. They underlined the importance that implementation is conducted transparently and with the participation of civil society organizations, including women and youth.
The council members urged armed groups to cease all forms of violence against civilians, UN peacekeepers and humanitarian personnel, destabilizing activities, as well as restrictions on freedom of movement of people and on the delivery of humanitarian aid.
They asked armed groups to immediately and unconditionally lay down their arms in line with their commitments under the peace agreement. They also underlined in this regard the urgent need for the effective implementation of the CAR authorities' disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and repatriation program.
The council members reiterated the imperative need to hold accountable those responsible for violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of human rights, including those committed against children and those involving sexual and gender-based violence in conflict.
They stressed that the fight against impunity shall also be addressed through transitional justice mechanisms in a way that contributes to efforts toward sustainable national reconciliation.
The council members expressed their intention to closely follow further developments in the implementation of the peace agreement.
The peace agreement was signed following two weeks of negotiations in Khartoum, Sudan, under the auspices of the African Union. Since 2012, the CAR has been in civil war fought along religious and ethnic lines.
