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WORLD NEWS Thursday 7 February 2019

Some uneasy as Central African Republic, rebels make peace

By HIPPOLYTE MARBOUA Armed groups currently
Associated Press control around 80 percent
BANGUI, Central African of Central African Repub-
Republic (AP) — Central Af- lic, and Touadera, in power
rican Republic and 14 reb- since 2016, has struggled
el groups signed a peace to stabilize the country as
deal on Wednesday even armed groups compete
as some expressed alarm over lands rich in gold, dia-
about the possible suspen- monds and uranium.
sion of prosecutions after The conflict began when
five years of bloody con- predominantly Muslim Sele-
flict. ka rebels seized power in
The agreement is the eighth Bangui. Largely Christian
since the fighting began in anti-Balaka militias fought
2013 but the first to emerge back. Rebels continue to
from direct dialogue. The carry out deadly attacks on
peace deal, negotiated in displaced people’s camps
Sudan and known as the and other communities.
Khartoum Agreement, is Brunon Hyacinthe Gbieg-
said to incorporate repre- ba, a human rights activist
sentatives of armed groups and observer at the peace
in the government of one In this Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2013 file photo, fighters from a Christian militia movement known as the talks, said he was most
of the world’s poorest na- “anti-balaka” display their makeshift weaponry in the village of Boubou, halfway between the concerned with the fight
tions. towns of Bossangoa and Bouca, in the Central African Republic. against impunity. He took
“Certain compatriots have Associated Press issue with a clause in the
thought that the republic optimistic about bringing thorities jubilant alongside manage the affairs of the agreement that reportedly
has abandoned them. I rebels into the government our executioners,” Yannick state.” calls for the suspension of
want to say to you all that I while honoring the families Nalimo, a journalist and Details of the peace deal prosecutions of those ac-
will spare no effort to make of their victims. The fighting blogger, told The Associ- have not been publicly re- cused of abuses during the
Central African Repub- has killed thousands, dis- ated Press. “It does not leased. Officials had said conflict. “Everyone is ac-
lic our common home,” placed hundreds of thou- put anyone at ease. The that would happen after countable for the actions
President Faustin Archange sands and sent two people people do not want these the signing but Wednes- they have taken,” Gbieg-
Touadera said at the sign- to the International Crimi- people, who put the coun- day’s ceremony ended ba told the AP, insisting on
ing in the capital, Bangui. nal Court. “We are shocked try down and stripped us without it being read out in mandatory justice against
Yet few appeared to be because we see our au- bare, to come back and public. perpetrators.q

Hopes high for concrete results from 2nd Kim-Trump summit

By HAU DINH the United States and North by North Korea in the 1970s
Associated Press Korea will produce “more and ‘80s, saying it remains
HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — concrete and practical” “our most important issue”
Governments across Asia agreements during the related to North Korea.
on Wednesday expressed meeting. The leaders’ first Australian Foreign Minister
hope that a second sum- summit in Singapore last Marise Payne said enforc-
mit between U.S. President June ended with a vague ing international sanctions
Donald Trump and North promise by Kim to work against North Korea is im-
Korean leader Kim Jong toward denuclearization, portant in conveying that
Un in Vietnam will produce without a concrete plan “the world is equally com-
concrete results that will for how it would be imple- mitted” to its denucleariza-
lead to the complete de- mented. tion.
nuclearization of the Kore- Japan, too, said it hopes “It’s not an overnight pro-
an Peninsula. the summit will be “mean- cess. It is a very significant
Trump announced in his ingful” and lead to the process,” she told the Aus-
State of the Union address complete denuclearization tralian Broadcasting Cor-
that the summit will take of the Korean Peninsula. poration from the Solomon
place Feb. 27-28. In this June 12, 2018, file photo, North Korean leader Kim Jong Chief Cabinet Secretary Islands, where she was vis-
A spokesman for South Ko- Un, left, and U.S. President Donald Trump shake hands prior to Yoshihide Suga also raised iting. “It will require exten-
rean President Moon Jae- their meeting on Sentosa Island in Singapore. the issue of Japanese citi- sive negotiations with the
in said South Korea hopes Associated Press zens who were abducted regime.” q