UN chief hopes to see peace further consolidated in Central African Republic

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Monday welcomed the launch of a Peace and Reconciliation Caravan in the northeast part of the Central African Republic, saying that it is hope to see that peace will be further consolidated in the country. "The secretary-general welcomes the launch today, in the Central African Republic, of a Peace and Reconciliation Caravan in conflict-affected areas in the northeast of the country," said a statement issued here by Ban's spokesman. The secretary-general "commends this effort to reduce tensions and promote reconciliation and peaceful coexistence between local communities," the statement said. "He hopes all key parties will build on this important exercise to further consolidate peace in the country. The United Nations stands ready to continue to support such efforts." Ban urges the parties to implement all provisions of the agreement signed in Oct, this year, which was facilitated by the Mediator of the Republic and the Government of the Central African Republic with the support of the United Nations, the African Union, the Economic Community of Central African States and its peacekeeping operation, MICOPAX, as well as the Government of Chad, the statement added. The Central African Republic has been unstable since its independence from France in 1960 and is one of the least-developed countries in the world. Some progress towards ending the conflict was made in 2008, when peace talks led to an agreement committing two of the main rebel groups to disarm. The process culminated with the creation of a national unity government incorporating two rebel leaders in early 2009. However, another threat has appeared - the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels of neighboring Uganda, whose insurgency has spread to the wider region, including CAR. In 2009, LRA activities forced the populations of several towns and villages to flee, while government forces struggled to contain the gunmen.