In 2022, Conciliation Resources started working with partners to build on existing local peace mechanisms (LPM), in Bossangoa and Kaga-Bandoro to develop their knowledge of conflict analysis and peacebuilding skills.
The small community of Ouandango, is near Kaga-Bandoro in the central region of CAR - an area historically dominated by armed groups and insecurity. Many young people joined armed community defence groups known as the Anti-balaka. For more than three years, the Anti-balaka ruled and secured the Ouandago community and its surrounding areas in the absence of the government forces. Forced into the bush by the Central African Armed Forces (FACA), some members of the Anti-balaka continued to destabilise security in the community, carrying out armed attacks on traders and travellers. Concerns rose that the exiled Anti-balaka members were preparing to join with other armed groups assimilated into the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC) to seek revenge in the community.
Members of the local peace mechanism called “Nzoni douti ti sewa”, who had been supported by Conciliation Resources and our partner Vision Enfant Republique Centrafricaine, explained:
“Within our group, we started to worry about the rumours of attacks. We discussed the likelihood and possible mitigation measures to prevent any serious damage to Ouandago’s population. We concluded to reduce the risk by opening a discussion with the former Anti-balaka from our village who had been forced to leave and was exiled in the bush.”
“Our analysis was that if we do not bring them back to the village, there is a risk that they will join a new rebellion and they may take revenge against some villagers. Also, though they misbehaved, they were the protectors of our community against rebels and transhumant herders for more than four years before the national army arrived in Ouandago.”
The group discussed this with the gendarmerie [police] commander and FACA unit chief based in Ouandago who agreed with them and offered their support jointly with MINUSCA. The LPM used local contacts to reach out to the Anti-balaka, and started discussions with them about how to disarm and peacefully return to the community.
“We asked the Anti-balaka for an appointment and explained the reasons for our visit. The appointment was given and we started the discussions with the Anti-balaka. The gendarmes and FACA commanders joined later to guarantee security. All of the Anti-balaka fighters agreed to come back and to hand over their guns. They are now working as an auxiliary group at the gendarmerie and give support to FACA from time to time by playing the role of intelligence. Though there has never been any attack, we succeeded in disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) which never requests any big funds and we prevented travellers and villagers from being robbed.”
The return of former fighters and their collaboration with FACA and gendarmerie has made the community feel more secure, and former Anti-balaka fighters have been reunited with their families.
Michel, a member of the Local Peace Mechanism, said:
“We are taught by Conciliation Resources how to dig into a given situation to find the root causes. But we also learnt how conflict becomes easier to manage if we work to prevent it rather than to resolve. That is how we came to this idea of identifying this Anti-balaka group amidst all rumours of CPC possible attacks as a threat. So we think that giving a second chance to contribute to the security of their community can be an entry point to avoid that external forces use them against their own community.”
The Local Peace Mechanism in Ouandango is proof that investing in local peacebuilding initiatives is essential for maintaining peace and security in communities across the Central African Republic.
Photo: Community representatives and participants listen to speeches during a Decentralised Dialogue workshop in Borro, Bossangoa, Central African Republic 5-7 September 2022. (c) Nick Bennett/Conciliation Resources 2022
More like this
Central African Republic: the conflict in focus
The Central African Republic (CAR) has had a long and turbulent history of violent conflict and political instability. Since crisis erupted in 2013 huge efforts have been made to pull the country back from the brink of armed conflict.
