Central African Republic warring factions accept ceasefire

Warring factions in the Central African Republic have accepted a ceasefire agreement following months of Kenya-mediated negotiations.

The deal was reached between Joachim Kokate, a delegate of the Christian anti-Balaka group, and former CAR President Michel Djotodia of the Muslim Seleka group, the Kenyan presidency announced in a statement on Wednesday.

"There will be many who will try to bring divisions amongst you for their personal benefit," AFP quoted Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta as saying in the statement.

He went on to praise the parties’ demonstrated "spirit of brotherhood" during the negotiations.  

In January, an earlier ceasefire agreement, which had called for the substitution of CAR's interim government led by President Catherine Samba-Panza, was not acknowledged by Bangui.

The accord was also disregarded by the 10-member Economic Community of Central African States.

Since then, the rival factions have agreed to recognize the transitional authorities.

The UN says nearly 300,000 people have fled the violence in the CAR to Chad, Cameroon and Ethiopia.

The Central African Republic has been facing deadly unrest since December 2013, when Christian armed groups launched coordinated attacks against the Seleka group that toppled the government in March 2013.

SRK/AS/MHB

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