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Central African Republic

Active in the country since 2014, FSD supports the ongoing peace process and conducts targeted development projects.

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These two children are on their way to the local school in Bouar. Only half of the children in the country finish primary school. (Central African Republic, 2019)

Central african republic

Context

The Central African Republic has endured decades of violence and political unrest. Since the resumption of the civil war in early 2013, one in four Central Africans has left his home. Poverty is endemic and the majority of the population has no access to essential services.

In 2019, the Government and the main armed groups in the country signed a peace agreement.

The agreement led to a process, initiated with the support of the European Union, to reform the security sector as well as to demobilise, demilitarise and reintegrate former combatants.

The agreement involves creating special mixed security units, comprising members of the Central African armed forces and of the different armed groups. It also involves implementing measures to restore State authority throughout the country, which primarily remains under the control of rebel groups.

The aim is to guarantee the stability of the country and the safety of the population, enable internally displaced people to return to their homes and help improve living conditions.

Thanks to this disarmament project, I now have a job. I can build things. I would never abandon this to return to fighting.

former rebel of an armed group

Trained in carpentry by FSD as part of its support to the peace programme

ex-combattant-CAR
Central African republic

Support to the peace process

In the Central African Republic, FSD has the mandate to help rehabilitate government infrastructure and to reinforce the country’s administrative capacities.

In 2021, FSD completed the second phase of the rehabilitation of Camp Leclerc in Bouar, where the Central African Republic’s security forces are now based with their families. Bouar, the country’s second biggest town, is located along the road that connects the capital, Bangui, to Cameroon. As such, ensuring State control in this region is crucial to guaranteeing the supply of food and basic necessities to the Central African Republic.

FSD-in-the-Central-African-Republic
Central african republic

Disarmament and reintegration

As part of the process to reintegrate former rebel-group members, FSD has built camps for the deployment of the Special Joint Security Units in Bouar, Poua and Ndele. With the aid of a programme that uses biometric data verification, FSD facilitated the secure payment of the monthly allowances agreed with the African Union and the European Union.

In Bangui FSD also provided professional training (in carpentry, welding and car mechanics) to support the reintegration of ex-combatants into civilian life.

Reinsertion of former combatants, Central African Republic
Central african republic

Economic development

As part of its activities to support the peace process, FSD works in direct collaboration with local businesses and shops.

This helps create jobs and boosts the local economy. Meanwhile, people who are interested in professional training receive it.

For instance, local associations of rural women of Bouar and the Londo Mo Louti centre were hired to manufacture several items such as furniture, bedsheets and protective masks. This helped to reintegrate young women, isolated women or victims of domestic violence.

Support to development activities, Central African Republic
Central african republic

Support to communities

FSD uses its presence throughout the country to carry out socio-economic development activities. It conducted preliminary assessments to determine the needs of communities.

In 2021, it began rehabilitating local schools, kindergartens and orphanages in Bangui and Bouar. FSD has also drilled wells and set up pumping systems to provide drinking water to the populations.

Children in the city of Bouar where FSD supports the peace process (Central African Republic, 2018)
Timeline

FSD in the Central African Republic

In 2014, while the country was in the middle of civil war, FSD launched its first initiative, a small project to raise awareness on the dangers associated with handling weapons, ammunition or explosive remnants of war. The organisation was also involved in recovering, identifying and burying the remains of victims of the conflict.

From 2015, as part of a European Union project, FSD gradually focused its efforts on activities aimed at restoring the authority of the State in the country. This includes supporting the organisation and administration of the Central African defence ministry, and the deployment of new security forces in different regions of the country.

At the same time, FSD carries out support activities within local communities. Measures are under way to create jobs, improve access to drinking water and promote the empowerment of women.

Stories

News from the Central African Republic

Drilling wells

“The lack of easy access to clean water is tangible here in Bouar, especially during the dry season”. In the Central African Republic, only one person out of four has access to clean water. In the country […]
RCA,-une-ecole-toute-neuve-a-Bouar

A brand new school in Bouar

In Camp Leclerc, FSD rehabilitated the local public school […] including building a completely new facility to accommodate hundreds of pre-school children.
Les-meubles-de-Baoui

The furniture of Baoui

The inhabitants of the small village of Baoui, in the Central African Republic, have become specialists in the manufacture of small wicker furniture. FSD recently asked them to produce nearly 450 balambos […]
CENTIMETRE after CENTIMETRE

In 2021, our deminers cleared 8.5 kms², an area equivalent to half of Geneva. The work required constant concentration, even under working conditions that were at times extreme.

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