By: TPA News Desk | editor@thepointafricanews.com

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, has welcomed the recent peace agreement between the government of the Central African Republic (CAR) and two armed groups—the Union for Peace in the Central African Republic (UPC) and the Return, Reclamation and Rehabilitation (3R) movement.

In a statement issued on Friday, Chairperson Youssouf commended the parties for taking what he described as a critical step toward lasting peace and security in the conflict-torn nation. He urged other armed factions that have yet to join the peace process to disarm and engage in inclusive national dialogue.

“This agreement is a hopeful development and a demonstration of political will,” Youssouf said. “I call on all remaining armed groups to put the interests of the Central African people first and to join the reconciliation process without delay.”

The deal, signed earlier this week in Bangui, includes commitments to disarmament, demobilization, reintegration, and participation in political processes. It was facilitated with support from the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) and the Chadian government.

The UPC and 3R groups—long active in CAR’s volatile central and northwestern regions—have been involved in repeated clashes with government forces and rival militias. Both groups were formerly part of the rebel coalition known as the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC), which attempted to disrupt the country’s 2020 presidential elections.

Despite progress, insecurity remains a major obstacle to peace in CAR. Armed groups still control large swaths of territory, and humanitarian agencies report that nearly 3.4 million people—over half the population—are in need of assistance.

The African Union reaffirmed its commitment to working with regional and international partners to ensure the implementation of the peace deal and support CAR’s long-term stability.