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Federal Foreign Office on the peace agreement for the Central African Republic
A Federal Foreign Office spokesperson issued the following statement today (21 June) on the peace agreement for the Central African Republic:
In Rome on Monday, the Government of the Central African Republic and rebel groups reached an agreement on common elements to establish peace through the mediation of the Catholic lay Community of Sant'Egidio. This constitutes a major step after many years of internal conflict and the current rise in the number of armed confrontations. We call upon all parties now to resolutely implement the agreements that have been reached. The fighting must stop. The people of Central Africa urgently need peace and security in order to be able to rebuild their country.
Great respect is due to the persistence and commitment of Sant'Egidio, which made a consensus possible.
Background:
On 19 June 2017, a comprehensive peace agreement including all the armed groups in the country was signed on the premises and through the mediation of the Catholic lay Community of Sant'Egidio in Rome.
The Community of Sant'Egidio is active throughout the world and has approximately 75,000 members in more than 70 countries. Besides Europe, it has a particularly strong presence in Africa. Sant'Egidio's international peace and mediation activities first became known as a result of the successful negotiations on Mozambique from 1990 to 1992, when a 16-year-long civil war was brought to an end through negotiations in Rome. Professor Andrea Riccardi, who founded the community in 1968 while still at school, was awarded the Charlemagne Prize in 2009 on behalf of Sant'Egidio and its work. In addition to its mediation work, Sant'Egidio is engaged in people-oriented development projects, particularly in Africa. In Italy, its country of origin, it is also deeply involved in charitable projects and refugee assistance.
The Federal Foreign Office provides considerable support and funding for international mediation projects run by Sant'Egidio throughout the world.
