Interview

Central African Republic: “Everything needs to be rebuilt”

With a ceremony of the President of the Central African Republic commits his first 100 days in office. But to celebrate there is little. In the DW-Interview Faustin arch explains the face Touadéra, as he wants to create peace.

DW: Mr President, since a coup in March 2013, your country does not come to rest. The violence between Muslim Séléka fighters and the Christian Anti-Balaka militia flares up again and again, until recently, there were Dead and injured during the riots. You are
since the end of March in the office, which of your goals have you achieved since then?

Faustin Archange Touadéra: you know that we have a term of five years. Of course, we have priorities. But not within 100 days. And as you also know, this country has very hard times. Everything has a priority, everything is urgent, everything needs to be rebuilt. That is quite clear.

But some of the things we had to give priority to. Our priorities, we have divided into four categories: First, the security issues, the economic issues, especially the rehabilitation of public finances. In addition, the restoration of state authority throughout the country and the fulfilment of the basic needs (of the population, Anm. d. Red.).

President Touadéra in the DW-Interview

We started our business immediately after my inauguration. Without hesitation, we have appointed a Prime Minister and a government formed that has made right to work. In order to achieve peace, we met with the leaders of the armed groups, we have had discussions in order to show you our Vision. And we have asked you to contribute to this process.

How should the peace process?

Peace means, firstly, that the disarmament of different groups. But we also need a Reform of the security sector and the need to restructure our army. Currently, we have Anm deployment army (which is located in the capital, Bangui, and from there, sending troops into various regions of the country. d. Red.). It is to be a garrison army, so that we can have on the state’s territory distributed solid units. We are working on that now, in the Ministry of defence and the joint staff, we have just appointed.

Nevertheless, there were just new outbreaks of violence in Parts of the country, even in the capital – wHY has the process of Disarmament, they again and again emphasize, is not yet begun?

There are only two, no it has been three months (since my swearing-in,, NB. d. Red.). As already mentioned, I’ve already spoken with the leaders of all armed groups, in order to inform you about how we will proceed. We need a structure which manages the process of Disarmament – together with the leaders of these groups and with the international community. We can’t cope alone. We will therefore work with the leaders, with the international community and the government together. And also – why not? – with civil society. Representatives of the recognized organizations of the civil society will be involved in this structure, which we call exactly this reason: so that the disarmament process can begin.

The Interview was conducted by Benjamin Baramoto.

Faustin Archange Touadéra is since 30. March 2016, the President of the Central African Republic. He took the Power of a transitional government, which after the outbreak of civil war in 2013 have been created. The 59-year-old mathematics teacher from 2008 to 2013, the Prime Minister of the Central African Republic. He is considered to be representative of the regime of Ex-President Bozizé, was started as an independent presidential candidate.