CAR interim President expresses gratitude, asks for post-conflict reconstruction & development support

New York, USA, 25 September, 2014: Central African Republic interim President HE Catherine Samba-Panza has expressed her appreciation for the support of African Union Member States for her country through its difficult times. She appealed for more support to overcome current challenges of post-conflict reconstruction and development.

HE Catherine Samba-Panza spoke with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission HE Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma when they met in the margins of the 69th UN General Assembly in New York.

She said though the country has gone through the most difficult phase of its conflict, there are still major challenges of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, as well as a need for national dialogue and reconciliation. She appealed for further partners’ support and accompaniment in these areas, including post-conflict reconstruction and development.

AUC Chairperson Dr. Dlamini Zuma assured her and the people of the Central African Republic of the support of the African Union, especially the peacekeepers who have remained committed till their recent re-hatting from being Africa-led to a UN-led peacekeeping mission. She said AU peacekeepers will remain at the core of the peacekeeping mission, and the Union will mobilise the necessary support to speed up the recovery and development of the Central African Republic.