Central African Republic residents celebrating on January 10, 2014 after the forced resignation of Michel Djotodia. France is attempting to control its former colony., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.
Zuma pledges $1m for Central African Republic
Feb 2, 2014 | Elissa Jobson
Business Day Live, South Africa
President Jacob Zuma says he is deeply concerned by the instability, the persistent loss of life and the worsening humanitarian situation within the Central African Republic
ADDIS ABABA — President Jacob Zuma on Saturday announced that South Africa would contribute $1m to the African-led International Support Mission in the Central African Republic (Misca), to raise funds for forces trying to bring peace to that country.
"We are deeply concerned by the instability, the persistent loss of life and the worsening humanitarian situation within the Central African Republic," Mr Zuma told representatives from African states and the international donor community gathered at the AU’s headquarters in Addis Ababa. "The recent events in the country, with fighting taking on religious lines, are very disturbing and continue to provide evidence on the need to move swiftly in responding to crisis on the continent."
The current crisis in Central African Republic (CAR) began in March last year when Seleka rebels overthrew the government. Thousands have died and an estimated 1-million people, out of a population of 4.6-million, have been displaced.
The European Union announced an extra €25m direct funding for Misca — this is in addition to the €50m already pledged. Nicholas Westcott, managing director for Africa, said the EU would also provide CAR with €20m for elections. Canada committed to contribute $5m to the United Nations Trust Fund for CAR. The UK said that it would provide $3.3m towards basic costs — including food, fuel and water — for Misca and Japan undertook to support the mission, directly through the AU, to the tune of $3m.
South Africa wasn’t the only African country to offer to support the 6,000-strong peacekeeping mission. Nigeria agreed to contribute $1.5m, Ethiopia and Ivory Coast $500,000 each, and Gambia $50,000. Algeria said it would help with the aerial deployment of personnel.
By far the largest donation of the day came from the Economic Community of Central African States which pledged $100m, although doubts have been expressed as to the organisation’s ability to fulfil its commitment.
In total $314,760,000 — including sums agreed before Saturday’s donor conference — has been raised for Misca, Smail Chergui, AU commissioner for peace and security told journalists. This falls well short of the estimated $409,303,146 annual budget for the force, but Mr Chergui insisted that the AU was not disappointed by the outcome.
"We are very happy about the result of this conference. This underlines the firm commitment of Africa and the whole international community to be side by side with the people of the Central African Republic in order to overcome this crisis and return to normality," he said.
Earlier in the morning the AU held a separate pledging conference for the African Solidarity Initiative, a programme spearheaded by South Africa, to help countries emerging from conflict situations. Eight countries — Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Central African Republic, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Mali, South Sudan and Sudan — have been identified as needing assistance.
Disappointingly the conference managed to raise just over $3m — $2m of which came from Nigeria, $1m from Algeria, and $50,000 from Gambia. Desiré Assogbavi, head of the Oxfam liaison office with the AU, said that the felt that conference was a failure.
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