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{{History of the Central African Republic|expanded=current}}Bangui Agreements (also Bangui Accords, Accords de Bangui, and Bangui Peace Accords) is a 1997 negotiated peace accord in the Central African Republic (CAR). It was drawn up in Bangui to bring an end to the 1990s conflict between government and rebel forces.{{Sfn|McKenna|2011|p=37}}{{sfn|Europa Publications|2003|p=201}} It was signed by the Patassé government, opposition parties and religious groups. The agreement envisaged several steps to sort out the views of various political factions, reorganize the defense establishment, and implement reforms in the country to improve its economy.{{Sfn|McKenna|2011|p=37}}

Prelude

In 1995, several opposition movements (FPP, MDD PSD, FC and ADP) joined together and formed the Conseil Démocratique des Partis de l'Opposition CODEPO.{{sfn|Villalón|VonDoepp|2005|p=139}} CODEPO staged a rally against the government demanding that unpaid salaries for public servants and army personnel be paid in arrears.{{sfn|Europa Publications|2003|p=201}} Three successive mutinies occurred in 1996 against the Ange-Félix Patassé's Government by some of the members of the country's armed forces, due to non payment of salaries, labour issues and ethnic differences resulting in a crisis.{{Sfn|Sarooshi|1999|p=244}}{{Sfn|Seddon|2013|p=114}} One of the mutinies involved approximately 200 soldiers who demanded salary increases and the abdication of Ange-Félix Patassé. The aftermath led the French troops stationed in the country to suppress the rebellion and restore order.{{Sfn|Seddon|2013|p=114}} In December, at the 19th Summit Meeting of Heads of State and Government of France and Africa, Patassé asked the Presidents of Gabon, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali to mediate a truce between government and rebel forces.WEB, Central African Republic - MINURCA Background,weblink

Signing

In January 1997, the Bangui Agreements were signed by the Patasse government, opposition parties and religious groups. An international committee composed of a member of each from the concerned state was formed to monitor the implementation of the Bangui Agreements.

Aftermath

Michael Gbezera-Bria was appointed Prime Minister, and a new government was formed after signing of the Bangui Agreements.{{Sfn|Seddon|2013|p=114}} However, this did not bring about an end to the political unrest.{{Sfn|McKenna|2011|p=37}} The UN Resolution 1125 was adopted in August 1997 due to concern with the situation in CAR; it authorised the MISAB to be deployed for three months.NEWS,weblink Acting under Chapter VII, Security Council authorises mission in Central African Republic to ensure its security, freedom of movement, 6 August 1997, United Nations, In October, the French Government withdrew its army from Bangui and also closed the military base in Bouar.{{Sfn|McKenna|2011|p=37}} Resolution 1136 was adopted in November 1997, which included a recall of Resolution 1125 and an authorization of MISAB's continuation for three more months.NEWS,weblink Acting under Chapter VII, council extends mandate of monitoring mission in Central African Republic for three months, from today, 6 November 1997, United Nations, Resolution 1152 was adopted in February 1998 with reaffirmation of Resolutions 1125 and 1136, as well as authorization to continue MISAB until 16 March 1998.NEWS,weblink Acting under Chapter VII, Security Council extends mandate of inter-African mission in the Central African Republic, 5 February 1998, United Nations, Resolution 1155 was adopted in March 1998, with a re-affirmation of Resolutions 1125, 1136, and 1152, as well as authorization to continue MISAB until 27 March 1998.NEWS,weblink Security Council extends to 27 March authorisation to Member States participating in Inter-African Monitoring Mission (MISAB), 16 March 1998, United Nations, In April 1998, the UN intervened with Resolution 1159 which established the United Nations Mission to the Central African Republic mission (MINURCA) with a 1,350 strong peace keeping force,{{sfn|MacQueen|2002|p=278}} aiming to bring about peace among the various warring groups and also facilitating free elections to the legislature.{{Sfn|McKenna|2011|p=37}}{{Sfn|Seddon|2013|p=114}} Resolution 1182 was adopted in July 1998; it reaffirmed Resolutions 1125, 1136, 1152, 1155, and 1159, and extended MINURCA through 25 October 1998.NEWS,weblink Extending mission in Central African Republic until 25 October, Council calls on authorities to move towards legislative elections, 14 July 1998, United Nations, Resolution 1201 was adopted in October 1998; it reaffirmed Resolutions 1125, 1136, 1152, 1155, 1159, and 1182 regarding the situation in the Central African Republic, and extended the MINURCA mandate until 28 February 1999.NEWS,weblink Council extends Central African mandate until 28 February 1999, 15 October 1998, United Nations, Elections were held during November-December 1998 under the auspices of the United Nations peacekeeping force, hoping that the Bangui Agreements would become effective. But the opposition boycotted the Assembly after one of their members defected to presidential camp.{{Sfn|Seddon|2013|p=114}} Resolution 1230 was adopted in February 1999; it reaffirmed Resolutions 1125, 1136, 1152, 1155, 1159, 1182, and 1201, extended the MINURCA mandate through 15 November 1999, which would be its termination date.NEWS,weblink Security Council extends Central African Republic mission until 15 November, 26 February 1999, United Nations, Elections were held again in September 1999 with Patassé returned to power as President. Resolution 1271 was adopted in October 1999; it reaffirmed Resolutions 1159, 1201, and 1231, extended the MINURCA mandate until 15 February 2000, and described a transition from a peacekeeping operation to a post-conflict peace-building presence.NEWS,weblink Security Council extends mandate of United Nations Mission in Central African Republic until 15 February 2000, 22 October 1999, United Nations, A semblance of peace returned and the UN peace keeping force withdrew from CAR in February 2000.{{Sfn|Seddon|2013|p=114}} ">

United Nations Resolutions{| class"wikitable sortable" align"center"

! style="background:#efefef;" | Number! style="background:#efefef;" | Adopted! style="background:#efefef;" | Remarks

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1125>1125|6 August 1997| Expressing concern at the situation in CAR, the resolution extended the period of MISAB initially for three months. The cost of the operations would be borne by the participating states (Burkina Faso, Chad, Gabon], Mali, Senegal and Tago)

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1136>1136|6 November 1997|Authorises continuation of MISAB. The Secretary-General Kofi Annan was asked to establish a fund in which Member States could financially contribute to MISAB.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1152>1152|5 February 1998|Extended till 16 March 1998. Secretary-General intended to appoint a Special Representative to assist the parties in implementing the agreements.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1155>1155|16 March 1998|Extends MISAB mandate until 27 March 1998. On that date, the Security Council was to take decision regarding the establishment of a peacekeeping mission in the country.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1159>1159|27 March 1998|Established the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic (MINURCA). Extended mandate till 15 July 1988. CAR was asked to conclude a Status of Forces Agreement with Secretary General before 25 April 1988.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1182>1182|14 July 1998|Extends MINURCA mandate by 3 months and asked CAR to adopt plans to restructure its army and organise elections.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1201>1201|15 October 1998|Extends MINURCA mandate to 28 February 1999 with intent to terminate MINURCA with a reduction of its size no later than 15 January 1999.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1230>1230|26 February 1999|Extends MINURCA mandate up to 15 November 1999and expresses its intention to fully terminate it by that date

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1271>1271|22 October 1999|Extended the mandate to 15 February 2000 with a view to examine its transition from a peacekeeping operation to a post-conflict peace-building presence. A small delegation was to be dispatched by the Secretary-General to the capital Bangui to determine the modalities of a continuation of the United Nations presence in the CAR after 15 February 2000.

References

{{reflist|25em}}

Bibliography

• BOOK, McKenna, Amy, The History of Central and Eastern Africa,weblink 2011, The Rosen Publishing Group, 978-1-61530-396-0,
• BOOK, Europa Publications, Africa: South of the Sahara, 2004,weblink 2003, Taylor & Francis Group, 978-1-85743-183-4,
• BOOK, MacQueen, Norrie, United Nations Peacekeeping in Africa Since 1960,weblink 2002, Longman / Pearson Education, 978-0-582-38253-4,
• BOOK, Danesh, Sarooshi, The United Nations and the Development of Collective Security: The Delegation by the UN Security Council of Its Chapter VII Powers,weblink registration, 244, 1999, Oxford University Press, 978-0-19-826863-5,
• BOOK, David, Seddon, A Political and Economic Dictionary of Africa,weblink 15 April 2013, Routledge, 978-1-135-35555-5,
• BOOK, Villalón, Leonardo A., VonDoepp, Peter, The Fate of Africa's Democratic Experiments: Elites and Institutions,weblink 1 September 2005, Indiana University Press, 978-0-253-00311-9,

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