UN chief calls for international support for Central African Republic

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Friday urged the international community to fortify its efforts to help the people of the Central African Republic (CAR), where he warned the ongoing crisis is worsening. "The dark clouds of mass atrocities and sectarian cleansing loom over the CAR," Ban told a Security Council meeting on cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in maintaining international peace and security. "Public lynchings, mutilations, and other horrendous acts of violence are spreading mayhem and fear," Ban said, noting that he is deeply concerned by the "cycle of revenge and reprisals. According to him, the local Red Cross reported finding a mass grave in Bangui. Public records confirming identities and land ownership are being deliberately destroyed, and citizens and officials are fanning the flames through hate speech. The UN chief stressed that the international community must do its utmost to prevent further atrocities and retaliatory violence. "This will be a crucial opportunity to fortify our collective efforts -- a chance to show that cooperation between the UN, AU ( the African Union), EU (the European Union) and others can help the people of the CAR at their time of need," Ban said. "Let us pledge here and now to ensure that the people of the CAR have the lifeline of support and protection that they need. Let us commit to the strongest possible cooperation and coordination between the UN, AU and EU. Let us show what solidarity and concerted action can achieve for the people of the CAR," he said. The secretary-general also thanked the government of France for deploying its forces, saying that he looks forward to the forthcoming military contributions by EU, to be coordinated with the operation of the African-led International Support Mission in the CAR (MISCA). "I am committed to do everything in my power to prevent further atrocities and reduce the risk of de facto partition of the country," he said. Ban added he would return to the Security Council on Tuesday with his recommendations for containing and ending the crisis in CAR. His remarks came as France announced Friday that it would increase "temporarily" its troop presence in the violence-torn African country. Plagued by decades of instability and fighting, the CAR witnessed a resurgence of violence in December 2012 when the Seleka rebels launched a series of attacks, culminating in March when then President Francois Bozize was forced to flee the city as they seized control of the capital. A transitional government headed by Prime Minister Nicolas Tiangaye was entrusted with restoring law and order, and paving the way for democratic elections. However, armed clashes in the northeast part of the country increased since August, and the CAR is facing a dire humanitarian situation affecting some 4.6 million people. On Jan. 10, then interim President Michel Djotodia resigned, and Tiangaye also stepped down. A caretaker government was established late January with a mandate to pull the turmoil-torn country out of crisis.