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Armed groups control large tracts of territory, and about a quarter of the nearly 5 million people have been displaced.
The President of the Central African Republic, Faustin-Archantowadra, announced a unilateral cessation of attacks on armed groups and expressed the hope that this will lead to peaceful dialogue.
Since former President François Bozize was deposed in 2013, the country has experienced repeated rebellious violence. Armed groups control large tracts of territory, and about a quarter of the nearly 5 million people have been displaced.
Tuvadra said on television on Friday that he believes the ceasefire will help protect civilians from violence and enable them to access humanitarian assistance and basic services.
“This is to give peace a chance. I am here to announce to you the end of military operations and all armed operations on the territory of the country,” Tuadra said, noting that the move will take effect at midnight.
A spokesperson for the main rebel coalition, the Patriot Coalition for Change (CPC), told Reuters that he welcomes the initiative and that if the government does this, the Chinese Communist Party will respect the ceasefire. The past peace agreement soon collapsed.
The latest battle between the Chinese Communist rebels and the army was triggered by a court decision to ban former President Bozize from participating in last year’s presidential election, in which President Faustin-Archantowadra won a second term.
Tuvadela announced that he would hold a national dialogue with his opponent shortly after he was sworn in, but negotiations have not yet materialized.
Authorities accuse the Chinese Communist Party of frequent attacks on civilians, including one that killed 20 people last week.
The Chinese Communist Party spokesperson Abakar Sabone said that the organization also wants peace but is fighting for self-defense.
“The ceasefire is a good thing… but we are now waiting to see how it is implemented on the ground,” he told Reuters.
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