Central African Republic

Tabled by Judith Sargentini, Barbara Lochbihler, Nicole Kiil-Nielsen, Raül Romeva i Rueda on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the UN Security council resolution of 2127 on peace keeping force,

- having regard to the decision of the African Union of 19 July 2013 to deploy peace operation under the auspice of the African Union,

- having regard to the 2008 Libreville Comprehensive peace Agreement between the government of the Central African Republic and several politico-military movements,

- having regard to the United Nations Peace building Support Office in the Central African Republic (BONUCA), established in 1999 to support Government’s efforts to consolidate peace and national reconciliation, strengthen democratic institutions and facilitate the mobilization at the international level of political support and resources for national reconstruction and economic recovery in the country,

- having regard to its previous resolution,

- having regard Rule 122 of its Rules of Procedure,

A. Extremely worried by the situation in CAR, which is at the verge of implosion with severe consequences on the population since a rebel alliance known as Seleka took power in March 2013,

B. Whereas increased violence by armed groups and between communities and religious faiths has further deteriorated the political and security situation, marked by widespread insecurity, violation of human rights, looting, sexual violence against women, arbitrary detention , recruitment of child soldiers,

C. Whereas despite religious leaders effort to avoid inter-confessional war and the traditional peaceful coexistence between religions and communities, the situation risk to be out of hand unless addressed properly,

D. Whereas armed conflicts have become increasingly self-financing, as rebel groups, criminal networks, mercenaries and predatory elites have increasingly relied on natural resource revenues to fund military activities,

E. Whereas due to insecurity and lack of funding, humanitarian organisations are only working in towns, compared to the scale of the crisis,

F. Whereas the instability has pushed 70% of the children out of school and recruitment of child soldiers is on rise,

G. Worried by the serious financial difficulties that the CAR is confronted despite its important agricultural, water and mineral resources (timber, gold, diamonds, uranium), and the inability of the transitional government to pay salaries for public administration including the security forces,

H. Whereas decades of political instability, personal enrichment of leaders, widespread corruption, successive coup d'états including the one which has overthrown president Boise last March 2013, led the country to state failure, chronic instability and fragility,

I. Whereas it is important to put in place a broad and holistic approach, which takes into account the inter-connectedness between CAR's natural resource governance, peace, security and development issues for long lasting solution,

1. Calls on Central African authorities and all stake holders to address the structural causes of the country's recurrent crisis and work together to implement the Libreville Agreement with the objective of reaching long lasting peace and democratic solutions,

2. Welcomes the UN Security Council decision to increase military action by French and African troops aiming at restoring security and protecting civilians in the Central African Republic.

3. Calls on all parties to respect human rights, international humanitarian law and guarantee humanitarian agencies to have immediate, unhindered access to all those in need and refrain from any acts of violence against the civilian population,

4. Calls for an investigation of human rights violations and violations of international humanitarian law committed in CAR and welcomes in this respect the UN Security Council decision on arm embargo against the CAR and the setting up of a UN commission of inquiry on the violence.

5. Calls on the International Contact Group on the Central African Republic (CAR) to support financially the CAR in order to create viable economic development, to restore functioning public administration and services and to put in place functioning democratic institutions, capable of protecting citizens,

6. Insists that a comprehensive political solution, including fair distribution of wealth and access to resources are vital in bringing solutions to the conflict and pave the way for sustainable development of the region,

7. Considers that transparency and public scrutiny in the mining sector is crucial to efficient mining management, to make public mining and exporting companies activities and revenues,

8. Calls on CAR neighbouring countries to adopt regional approach to deal with illegal exploitation of resources as it has trans-border nature, and enhance inter-state cooperation to bring peace and control on small and light weapon proliferation in the region,

9. Calls on the UN General Secretary to put in place a panel of experts to make inquiry on the exploitation of the CAR agricultural and mineral resources with the objective of establishing a legal system so that the country's resource benefit its population,

10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and Commission, the African Union, the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the UN Secretary-General, the UN Human Rights Council, the President of the Central African Republic and Economic Community of Central African States Secretary-General.