Luanda - The Heads of State and Government of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) called on rebel forces in the Central African Republic (CAR) to observe a unilateral and immediate ceasefire this Friday in Luanda.
According to the final communiqué of the Mini-Summit, convened by the ICGLR Chairperson, João Lourenço, the participants also urged the military forces to abandon the siege of Bangui, capital of the CAR, and return to their initial positions.
They considered the situation in the Central African Republic to be threatening and decided to hold a second Mini Summit in ten days, in the Angolan capital (Luanda).
Also according to the document, the threat to security and stability in the sub-region was mainly focused on the countries neighbouring the Central African Republic.
The note added that the Summit of Heads of State and Government gave a mandate to ICGLR and ECCAS Chairpersons to make the necessary efforts within the United Nations Security Council for the lifting of the arms embargo imposed on the Central African Republic.
Opening of the Duala-Bangui corridor
According to the note, the Summit calls on the rebel groups to open the Duala-Bangui corridor in order to allow the free movement of people and goods.
The Heads of State and Government, the document stresses, urge all political actors to use only legal ways and means to express their protests.
They condemn the looting and murders of the civilian population, representatives of humanitarian organisations and the United Nations Blue Helmets, and call for justice for the crimes committed.
