WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, issued the following statement:
“I stand with the people of the Central African Republic (CAR) and urge the international community to play a more decisive role in preventing atrocities, invest in peace efforts, provide much needed humanitarian assistance, and support the country’s democratic transition. Because they exercised their right to be heard, the people of CAR are suffering from a new wave of violence. The United Nations reported that in the last two months, 200,000 citizens have fled their homes and have been displaced inside and outside of the country.
“I also stand with the international community and call on all parties, including the political opposition, to respect the results of the recent presidential elections, and to settle any disputes peacefully in accordance with the commitments under the 2019 Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation. The citizens of CAR exercised their right to vote despite facing tough obstacles because they want peace and reconciliation, stabilization, and democracy.
“I urge the international community to continue to support the people of the CAR by encouraging immediate humanitarian ceasefire efforts and improving civilian protection; help strengthen democratic governance and accountability; provide humanitarian assistance where needed, but also encourage trade and investment; and support the African Union and other regional partners in a coordinated strategy to support peace and stability in the country.”
