Central African Republic a threat to Great Lakes security-UN officials
August,16, 2013 (NEW YORK) – United Nations officials have warned that the Central African Republic(CAR) poses a threat to peace in the Great Lakes region following the toppling of President Francois Bozize in March this year by the Seleka rebels and failure by the new government to maintain law and order in the country.
“The country runs the risk of descending into anarchy and chaos,” said UN envoy for CAR, retired Lt Gen Babacar Gaye on Thursday.
The UN’s humanitarian chief, Valeria Amos, called on the Security Council to act fast and restore peace and security in the country to stop insecurity from spreading in the region.
“The failure to act now could not only prolong and exacerbate the appalling conditions the people of the Central African Republic have had to endure, but could also see the crisis spread beyond its borders and throughout a region already facing enormous challenges,” said Valeria Amos.
The Central Africa Republic shares borderlines with Chad, Sudan, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
In March this year when the rebel forces took over power from Bozize, they ordered the Ugandan army out of the country.
Uganda is leading regional armies in efforts to hunt for Joseph Kony, the elusive leader of the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) which has been accused of committing serious crimes in Uganda, CAR, DRC Congo and South Sudan.
Consequently the Ugandan army suspended the fight against the LRA raising concern it would provide the brutal rebel group with a vital opportunity to re-group, abduct civilians to swell their ranks and cause more mayhem.
Last month, the American advocacy organisation, Resolve, authored a report saying the Joseph Kony was losing control over the LRA but recommended that the African Union(AU) lobbies the CAR government to allow US and Ugandan military to conduct helicopter broadcasts with messages encouraging defections from the LRA in the areas of Mbomou, Haut Kotto, and Vakaga.
(ST)