Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir (R) hands the document of the peace agreement to President of Central African Republic (CAR) Faustin Archange Touadera at the conclusion of peace talks patronized by Sudanese government in capital Khartoum.
KHARTOUM, Feb 6 (NNN-Xinhua) — The conflicting parties of Central Africa Republic (CAR) on Tuesday signed a peace agreement at the conclusion of talks patronized by Sudanese government in capital Khartoum.
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and his CAR’s counterpart Faustin Archange Touadera, who arrived in Khartoum earlier, attended the signing ceremony.
“The agreement which we have reached achieves the aspirations of our people and proves that we have a strong will,” Touadera said when addressing the signing ceremony.
“We will work to implement the deal, rebuild the CAR and provide services,” he added.
He further noted that it is time for opening a new chapter of reconciliation, urging all parties to work together to implement the deal.
“This is a historical day for Africa,” Sudan’s Foreign Minister Al-Dirdiri Mohamed Ahmed said when addressing the ceremony.
“This accomplishment has been achieved thanks to the support of the international community for Sudan’s efforts, the follow-up by the African Union, the CAR government and the leaders of the CAR movements who made the peace,” he added.
Moussa Faki Mahamat, chairperson of the African Union Commission, welcomed the signing of the peace deal.
He said that Africa is moving on the right path towards achieving an important goal which is “to silence the guns.”
Since Jan. 24, Khartoum has been hosting peace talks between the CAR government and 14 opposition factions.
Since 2013, the CAR has been suffering from a conflict after the Muslim-majority Seleka armed opposition seized power, which led to reprisal operations by the Anti-Balaka militia group said to be composed primarily of Christians. — NNN-XINHUA
