Bouar – The project “Reducing Tensions and Strengthening Social Cohesion among Returnees and Host Communities through Access to Identity Documents, Livelihoods and the Transitional Justice Process”(Réduire les Tensions et Renforcer la Cohésion Sociale entre les Retournés et les Communautés Hôtes à Travers l’Accès aux Pièces d’Identité, aux Moyens de Subsistance et au Processus de Justice Transitionnelle) was launched on Wednesday, December 20, 2023, on the esplanade of Bouar Town Hall by the Prefect of the Nana-Mambéré Prefecture, who represented the Prime Minister, in the presence of representatives of ministers invited for the occasion, the UN Resident Coordinator in the Central African Republic and Heads of United Nations System agencies.

Jointly implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), with involvement from the Ministry of Humanitarian Action, Solidarity and National Reconciliation, High Council for Communication, National Commission for Refugees and the Return and Reintegration Support Project (PARET), this project aims to prevent violence and strengthen social cohesion between returnees and the communities residing in their host areas or areas of origin, by targeting the causes of existing tensions.

The project has built its approach and interventions around the administrative, social and economic obstacles hindering the resettlement of returnees and their peaceful reintegration into their communities of origin or host communities.

The project’s interventions focus on three complementary strategic objectives which aim to:

• Create the necessary conditions for the administrative registration of returnees to facilitate the full enjoyment of their rights (identity documents, land titles, etc.), including rights related to housing, land and property;
• Strengthen intercommunity ties by reinforcing economic ties within communities and;
• Facilitate the inclusion of returnees in the transitional justice process to help combat prejudice and reduce the desire for revenge.

In addition, this project will strive to create the conditions for a regular administrative situation of returnees, thereby guaranteeing the full respect of their rights. This involves the issuance of identity documents, livelihoods and the transitional justice process to fully access their rights, including housing, land and property.

The official launch ceremony was an opportunity for the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, UN Resident Coordinator in the Central African Republic, to point out that “the process of developing this project was participatory and inclusive, through consultations and exchanges with grassroots communities, representatives of key ministries, actors from the United Nations system, international NGOs, national civil society organisations, academic institutions, women, youth and people living with disabilities.” He stressed: “This approach will enable the project launched today to gain the approval of the above-mentioned stakeholders, and ensure accountability. It will also undoubtedly improve the effectiveness and optimise the chances of success of our interventions.” In conclusion, he called for strong collaboration and involvement of all stakeholders in the implementation process.

This United Nations joint initiative is closely aligned with the Central African Government’s priorities set out in the National Recovery and Peacebuilding Plan, Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation and other national policies and strategies such as the Luanda Roadmap. They represent an important contribution to the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2023–2027) and the accelerated achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

In his speech, the Prefect of Nana Mambéré, representing the Prime Minister, outlined the context in which this project was developed, stressing in particular that “the Central African Republic (CAR) is going through two decades of a complex security crisis with serious human consequences. This political and sometimes communal crisis has long hampered social cohesion in the CAR. The presence of intercommunity conflicts, particularly among young people, is a worrying reality with serious consequences, causing massive population displacements within the country and towards neighbouring countries including Cameroon, Chad, the DRC and Sudan…”

On this note, the Prefect of the Nana-Mambéré prefecture officially launched the activities of the project, which will be implemented in eight (8) prefectures of the Central African Republic.

For more information, please contact:

Carmen NKOUNDOUBA, Protection Project Officer: cnkoundouba@iom.int
DE KOHAUTTO Grâce Emmanuel, Communication Assistant: gdekohautto@iom.int