In the Central African Republic, the counter-offensive led by the Central African allied forces (Faca) with their bilateral Russian ally has made it possible to retake a majority of the country's major cities. But this cont ...

Central African Republic: "I call on donors not to relax their efforts now"

Audio 08:26

Sylvie Baipo-Temon, Central African Minister of Foreign Affairs.

By: Charlotte Cosset Follow

15 mins

But this counter-offensive is accompanied by many questions - in particular that of the atrocities committed against the civilian populations.

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Several incidents, including one at the border with Chad, strained relations with neighbor Ndjamena.

Diplomatic relations which have also become strained with France.

Sylvie Baipo-Temon, the Central African Minister of Foreign Affairs, is our guest.

She returns to these questions with Charlotte Cosset.

RFI: There were altercations with your Chadian neighbor at the end of May, you went to Ndjamena and you met the transitional president there.

What came out of your exchange?

Sylvie Baipo-Temon

: The message that emerges is that the two presidents have the firm will to work together and to find a solution to these tensions which abound at the common border.

Bangui regularly denounces Chad's support for rebellions.

Is this a subject that you touched on?

No, there was really a message linked to this incident, but in an implicit way, because there are often interpretations, misunderstandings.

I remind you that the borders are certainly there, but we are only one people.

And really during this meeting which follows a telephone exchange between the two presidents, I was satisfied with the words of the president of the military and transitional council who also reiterated the words he had to exchange in Abuja. .

The two presidents had met within the framework of the Lake Chad Basin Commission and they agreed to maintain a dialogue, a constructive exchange to find a solution to the crises that undermine both the Republic of Chad and the Central African Republic.

Relations have also become strained with France, which has led to the suspension of part of its budgetary aid to the Central African Republic.

She hinted that she was expecting a gesture from the Central African authorities.

Are you ready to reach out?

The hand is outstretched.

It is all the more tense because, as in the case of neighboring Chad, there are many misunderstandings and interpretations.

We have had difficult times.

It is important that we communicate together and that we work especially together, to improve the state of our cooperation.

The Central African Republic is fully aware that the French Republic remains and is a traditional partner and a privileged partner.

France denounces in particular the aggressive campaigns, campaigns of denigration.

Are you planning to take action?

You know that measures have been taken and continue to be put in place to sanction.

We have proposed on several occasions to have communication that is much more appropriate.

We must show that we know how to work together and that despite certain turbulence, we are united.

The personalities involved in this disinformation are known.

The report of the United Nations experts points to some of them, such as Didacien Kossimatchi, who is in the entourage of the president himself

...

We must sanction what is to be sanctioned.

I would also like to say that the Central African Republic is a country which in this phase of crisis has seen many people express themselves.

The fact of being in the entourage, the entourage of the government, the entourage of the presidency, does not mean that we share the same information [point of view, editor's note].

You have people who perhaps do not adhere to this policy of the outstretched hand of the President of the Republic and the government and who go against the grain, undermining all the efforts that the government is leading.

You have to stay focused.

It is also a desire to entertain us, to take us away from the essential.

France is a partner of the Central African Republic, but others today are also wondering about their investments.

Are you worried about the suspension of aid from other partners?

The Central African Republic has made a lot of efforts, there has been a lot of progress with the support of the partners, it would be unfair to let go now, it is important not to agree with all those who play disinformation, play hate.

Because this is the desired result.

The Central African population does not deserve this.

Among the questions of the donors, the agreement concluded in the customs sector by the Central African Republic with Russia.

It is about training… In the Central African Republic, there is also a real subject of qualification level. When you see the results of the initiatives that have been carried out at the customs level, they are final. And the objective, in any case me as far as I am concerned, is to mobilize all the partners so that these expertise converge and create a positive and impactful synergy so that we achieve the common objective which is to relieve the Central African Republic. I call on donors to support the Central African Republic, not to relax their efforts now.

Numerous reports have been published in recent weeks concerning the abuses committed on Central African territory by armed groups of the Coalition for Change (CPC), but also by Russian paramilitaries who are helping the Central African army in the counter-offensive. Is the Central African Republic ready to conduct inquiries on this subject?

The Central African Republic is ready. As soon as she learned of the first report that was notified, a commission of inquiry was set up. It is still in progress and as the President of the Republic said, proven cases will be sanctioned. We are dealing with a Central African population which is traumatized. Since its independence, it has lived only from crisis to crisis and we must not be in a repetition of a population which is assassinated, raped or otherwise, by the very people who come to save it.

But you have to be impartial. There are also complaints of sexual abuse from Minusca. These too should be the subject of this investigation. Whoever the actors are, if any cases are found, they must be sanctioned. When you look on the media, it looks like the CPC did nothing. The allies and the Central African forces who in a very patriotic way took over the CPC to safeguard the essentials, today we have the impression that the very people who ensured this sovereign mission of securing the population are those - there which still defile the same population. Which is quite implausible.

And during this period, the CPC committed a lot [of abuses] and besides the report says that there were many more violations, without highlighting the CPC.

And I think that the ideal in the fight we are waging today is that we all be united for the eradication of armed groups in the Central African Republic so that the populations return to a level of tranquility that or at least correct.

Guest Africa - Central African Republic: "I call on donors not to relax their efforts now"

Central African Republic: "I call on donors not to relax their efforts now"

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