EC donates US $415,000 towards mediation efforts

The EC has donated 400,000 euros (US $415,040) to the African Union (AU) to support mediation efforts between the government of the Central African Republic (CAR) and rebel forces in the country. In a statement issued on Monday, the EC said the money would be used for the AU special envoy to CAR and the setting up of an AU liaison office in the capital, Bangui, for six months. In addition, the AU representative would be allowed to finance mediation activities such as meetings between the parties from the budget, the EC added. Supporters of the former army chief of staff, Gen Francois Bozize, launched an abortive a coup on 25 October against President Ange-Felix Patasse. Following the uprising the putschists gained control of the northern part of Bangui for several days, before being forced to retreat. They remain in control of parts of the north and south of the country. Despite the efforts of the UN Peace-building Support Office in CAR, BONUCA, the EC said the political situation was one that could be described as an "armed peace". The situation remained "critical" and the possibility of a further "regionalisation" of the conflict was increasing, it added. The grant has been made available under the EC's special "Rapid Reaction Mechanism". This latest attempt to remove Patasse from power was the seventh such incident since he was first elected in 1993.