Luanda - Angola on Thursday requested support for the pacification efforts to end the prevailing crisis in the Central African Republic (CAR).
According to a statement from the Permanent Mission of Angola to the United Nations, while speaking at Panel of Experts (S/2023/87), the Chargé d'Affaires, João Gimolieca, said Angola encourages the work of the panel of experts that reported the country’s humanitarian situation, the dynamics of armed groups, and cross-border flows of arms and illegal exploitation of natural resources.
The diplomat also said that Angola condemns the recent attack on the gold mine that resulted in the death of nine Chinese citizens having expressed condolences to the families and the government of the Republic of China.
"Despite all efforts towards peace and stability from the CAR government and stakeholders, the situation in this country remains volatile. The challenges presented in the report and the situation on the ground continues to require the attention of the international community", the Angolan diplomat said.
The diplomat said that despite President Faustin Archange Touadera's unilateral ceasefire declaration on October 15 2021 and the diplomatic efforts to monitor the Joint Roadmap for Peace in the Central African Republic and the Republican Dialogue of the Central African authorities on March 21,22 2022, armed groups continue to jeopardize these efforts.
In this context, Gimolieca emphasized that Angola condemns all actions of armed groups on the ground, as well as violence against civilians, women and children in particular, which have resulted in insecurity in areas outside urban centres, where millions of people remain vulnerable with livelihoods eroding.
Regarding the illicit trade of natural resources, the diplomat stressed that it remains one of the causes of instability in CAR, and called for the implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification to de-escalate the armed conflict.
The diplomat also called for the protection of legitimate trade and secured effective implementation of relevant resolutions on the trade of conflict diamonds.
"We therefore call for the establishment of regional instruments for regional cooperation in the mining sector, particularly in the areas of cross-border trade, infrastructure development and harmonisation of mining policy, including tax regimes, so that minerals can contribute to the economic development of the country and the region, instead of being a source of conflicts leading to the vicious circle of poverty and the negative impact of conflicts on regional stability" said the diplomat.
Regarding the humanitarian situation, Angola called on member states and the international community to support the people of the Central African Republic and neighboring countries to welcome refugees from this region.
João Gimolieca reiterated Angola's commitment to peace and stability in the region, working in close collaboration with the CAR government, regional and sub-regional organizations in the implementation of the Joint Roadmap within the framework of the Political Plan - Peace and Reconciliation Agreement in CAR.
The Angolan diplomat also called on partners to support the government of that country to achieve the longed-for peace and stability in that country, as well as the total lifting of the embargo.
Angola attended the meeting on the report of the Panel of Experts (S/2023/87) at the invitation of the Ambassador of Ghana, Harold Adlai Agyeman , Chairman of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2127 (2013) on the Central African Republic.
