Annan proposes extending UN office to help solidify peace

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has proposed extending the mandate of the UN Peace-building Support Office in the Central African Republic (BONUCA) for an additional year to help the country solidify peace and promote national reconciliation, UN News reported on Friday. In an exchange of letters with the president of the Security Council, Annan said he was making the proposal after the CAR government requested the renewal of BONUCA's mandate. Annan said the move to keep BONUCA in the country until 31 December 2003 would also enable the office to continue to support CAR in its ongoing efforts to "strengthen democratic institutions and the rule of law, and lay solid foundations for sustainable peace and socio-economic progress in the face of daunting domestic challenges and a volatile subregional environment". Peace-building efforts in CAR suffered a setback in May 2001, when former President Andre Kolingba launched a failed coup bid in the capital, Bangui. In November 2001, violence again rocked the capital when Gen Francois Bozize, with the support of allied soldiers, resisted arrest for questioning in connection with his alleged involvement in the thwarted May putsch.