Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) - An extraordinary summit meeting has been held for the heads of state and government of the Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC), regarding the crisis in Chad, in the wake of a failed rebel offensive (see Fides 2/2008). Furthermore, Chad continues to experience tense relations with neighboring Sudan, as they reciprocally accuse one another of supporting the armed opposition group of the other country. The President of Senegal announced that Sudan and Chad will soon sign an agreement resolving their differences.
The Summit was sought by the President of the CEEAC, Congo’s President Joseph Kabila, also strongly supported by the diplomatic tour made by Minister of Exterior in Congo, Antipas Mbusa Nyamwisi, who took Kabila’s message to all the capitals of the countries pertaining to the CEEAC: Burundi, Angola, Cameroon, Congo Brazzaville, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Central Africa, Sao Tome, and Principe.
A diplomatic action was what allowed leaders to quickly fix the date for the extraordinary summit, which is the first to be held in the organization’s history, in hopes of taking actions necessary for guaranteeing peace and stability for the region.
With this in mind, the Multinational Force of Central Africa (FOMAC) has been formed, replacing the previously-existing military force created in 2002 for peace-keeping missions in Central Africa. Military groups from the African nations had already completed some military exercises in Chad, as a preliminary trial, in anticipation of the creation of FOMAC. The crisis in Chad has been a direct confirmation for the need to proceed quickly in forming the Force.
The countries of Central Africa are trying to do their part in order to stabilize the region, which is characterized by great poverty and great wealth: a conflict that lies at the heart of its extreme tensions.
The importance of the summit has not gone unnoticed by Congo’s press. “The reflection on Chad’s crisis is a crucial opportunity for Central Africa to wake up, so it can cease to be the “giant taboo” and the soft spot of the black continent,” concluded an editorial in “Le Potential” of Kinshasa, that described the collaboration among Africans as the indispensable condition for freeing Central Africa of the constant meddling inflicted upon it by outside forces. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 10/3/2008; righe 31, parole 373)
