EU to assist African Union in mediation in CAR

The European Commission is contributing urgent support to the mediation efforts of the African Union in Central African Republic (CAR). It has made available a grant of Euro 400.000 funded under the Commission's special "Rapid Reaction Mechanism" towards the costs of an AU Special Envoy and the setting-up of an AU liaison office in Bangui for a period of six months.

On 25 October 2002, the seventh violent attempt to remove President Ange-Félix Patassé from power since he was first elected in 1993 was undertaken by supporters of the former army chief François Bozizé. The rebels occupied the northern part of the Bangui, CAR's capital, for several days before being forced to retreat. They are, however, still in control of parts of the country. In spite of the efforts of BONUCA (UN Peace-building support office), which is led by the UNSG Special Representative General Cissé, the political situation is currently an "armed peace".

Since the situation remains critical and the possibility of a further "regionalisation" of the conflict is increasing, the African Union has announced it will send a Special Envoy to Bangui to start up mediation between the rebels and the CAR-government. The European Commission has offered rapid support for the African Union with this initiative and has signed an agreement with the African Union making available EUR 400,000 for the Special Representative to establish offices for six months in Bangui. In addition, the Special Representative will be allowed to finance mediation activities such as meetings between the parties from this budget.

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