The EU will commit an additional €60 million to support the implementation of the peace agreement signed in February in the Central African Republic (CAR). The European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica, announced this on 26 September, during a meeting with the President of the Central African Republic, Faustin-Archange Toudéra, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
“The actions will focus on the redeployment of the State throughout the country, strengthening people’s access to basic services and preparing for elections in 2020 [...] People must quickly see the peace dividend in order to prevent any reversal”, the commissioner said in a statement.
These resources come from the European Development Fund (11th EDF), which finances EU cooperation with ACP countries (Africa, Caribbean, Pacific). The budget for CAR is €442 million for the 2014-2020 period. With the €60 million announced, the allocation will have been fully used.
All instruments combined, EU support to CAR since 2014 totals €850 million, including €140 million in humanitarian aid. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)