Faith leaders in CAR launch initiative to consolidate peace

The international community is backing an initiative to consolidate peace in Central African Republic following three years of inter-communal conflicts.

The interfaith peace platform aims to establish and support infrastructure for peace at a national level via the national secretariat.

At a local level the secretariat is setting up over 20 community peace committees in Bangui and outside the capital in Haut-Mbomou, Mbomou, Haute-Kotto and Vakaga prefectures to promote dialogue between fractured communities and reconciliation initiatives as well as dialogue with authorities.

Non governmental organisations are also helping the local peace committees to develop their action plans and further supporting them to find ways to link with the national work being undertaken by the religious leaders.

The establishment of the Interfaith Peace Platform is part of an 18-month project called “Support for community dialogue and peace in the CAR” funded by the European Union.

AFRICA/CENTRAL AFRICA – Christian and Islamic NGOs together to promote peace: Bangui – “Interfaith Partnershi… https://t.co/TwoYArQEVn

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CAR suffered the worst crisis in its history in early 2013 when mainly Muslim Seleka fighters toppled former president Francois Bozize.

Christian anti-Balaka militias responded by attacking the Muslim minority in retaliation leading to a three year religious and communal conflict that only subsided after elections early this year.

A fifth of the population have fled their homes to escape the violence.

The country has however witnessed relative calm since it held its polls in February and which resulted in the election of Faustin Archange Touadera as CAR’s new leader.