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ADDIS ABABA –– The African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) are working to set up a African-led mission in Central African Republic. The ECCAS Peace Consolidation Mission in Central African Republic (MICOPAX) could be replaced by the African-led International Support Mission (AFISM-CAR), officials said Wednesday.
The disclosure was made after consultations between Ramtane Lamamra, AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, and Ahmad Allam- Mi, Secretary-General of ECCAS, on Monday and Tuesday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The consultations were part of the follow-up to the decision of the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) in July on the deployment of AFISM-CAR and the meeting between experts from both organizations held in Libreville, Gabon, on Aug. 21-22.
The two sides discussed the modalities and timelines of the transition from MICOPAX to AFISM-CAR, whose core elements will be constituted by the MICOPAX contingents.
According to an AU statement, the AU Commission and the ECCAS General Secretariat will endeavor to establish the AFISM-CAR Mission headquarters and its various components.
The AU Commission and the ECCAS Secretariat reiterated their concern about the situation in Central African Republic and the need for international support to facilitate the completion of the transition in that country.
The two organizations appealed to the UN Security Council to authorize financial and logistical support for AFISM-CAR.
Central African Republic entered an 18-month transition after a coup early in the year. – Xinhua.
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