Three significant news articles have come out today which shows support for the Central African Republic on three different fronts: More than 1,000 Central African military personnel trained by Russia - https://thedefensepost.com/2018/09/...ublic-russia-1000-military-personnel-trained/ Central African Republic keen to attract Qatari investments - http://www.gulf-times.com/story/606538/Central-African-Republic-keen-to-attract-Qatari-in AU chief in CAR to boost peace efforts - https://www.journalducameroun.com/en/au-chief-in-car-to-boost-peace-efforts/ AXM is closer now than in the last six years to getting back to Passendro, a multi million ounce gold deposit that was proven up between 2002 to 2012.
http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1120902.shtml WGC’s China Chapter will boost gold sector: analysts By Zhang Hongpei Source:Global Times Published: 2018/9/25 22:18:39 0 Domestic companies poised to gain greater global influence A worker cleans gold jewelry at a local shop in Huaibei, East China's Anhui Province on June 26. Photo: VCG The new China Chapter being established by the World Gold Council (WGC) will bolster internationalization of the domestic gold market and offer more opportunities for Chinese gold enterprises to go global, said industry analysts. The WGC, a leading world organization for the industry, announced on Monday at its annual meeting in the US state of Colorado that it has established a China Chapter, according to a statement the organization sent to the Global Times Tuesday. The new chapter, which will be chaired by Song Xin, chairman of the China Gold Group, will enable Chinese member companies of the London-based WGC to engage more effectively with the rest of the board, said the statement. It was announced on the same day that Shanghai-listed Shandong Gold Group will join the WGC board as a member, becoming the second Chinese enterprise on the board after China Gold Group. "The Chinese gold industry has developed phenomenally over the past couple of decades, and China is now the largest producer and consumer of gold globally. As such, we are delighted that the WGC's membership is expanding, to better reflect the shape of the global gold mining industry," said David Harquail, chair of the WGC, according to the statement. China's gold output reached 426 tons in 2017 with consumption hitting 1,089 tons, making it the world's No.1 country in terms of production, consumption and processing, Song told the Xinhua News Agency on Tuesday. Jiang Shu, partner and investment director of Shanghai-based Oak Investment, told the Global Times on Tuesday that with China's upstream gold mining companies becoming strong, the establishment of the new chapter is a natural step in line with the development trend. "More interaction on the same platform enables domestic and international players to have a better evaluation of the global supply and demand of gold... an increasing number of Chinese gold companies are 'going out' while foreign enterprises are quite interested in the domestic market," said Jiang. "The new chapter is set to have a far-reaching influence on China's gold market, offering opportunities for domestic companies' upgrading as well as overseas mergers and acquisitions," Zhou Yinghao, an independent analyst of the gold industry, told the Global Times Tuesday. The platform will enable the Chinese gold supply chain to play a bigger role and have a bigger say in the global gold market, Zhou noted. Jiang said that more domestic gold producers would expand overseas via the new channel. That will hasten the opening-up of the Chinese gold market, which is currently led by commercial banks in terms of imports. In 2001, the People's Bank of China, the central bank, ended controlled procurement and distribution of gold, and the precious metal began trading on the Shanghai Gold Exchange the next year. Since then, the market has achieved "remarkable development," especially because it has been a relatively short period, said Zhou. Yet, related laws and rules, especially basic laws, need to be improved, Jiang pointed out. "Gold products have become more diversified and their prices are more linked with the international market to meet increasing domestic demand," Zhu said. In the second quarter of this year, China's total gold demand reached a three-year high of 332.9 tons, data from the WGC showed. With the establishment of the China Chapter, the current low market price for the metal is likely to increase at the end of this year or the beginning of next year, which will bring many opportunities for the WGC's new China chapter, according to Zhou.
African Union adopts Sudan’s initiative for peace in Central African Republic http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article66341 September 29, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The African Union has adopted Sudan initiative for peace in the neighbouring Central African Republic (CAR) said the Sudanese foreign ministry. The announcement was made after a meeting held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meetings in New York on Friday including Faustin-Archange Touadéra CAR President, Moussa Faki Chairperson of the African Union Commission, El-Dirdeiry Ahmed Sudan’s Foreign Minister, and Rwandan Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo. "The meeting discussed the developments in the situation in the Central African Republic and means of implementing the African Initiative for Peace and Reconciliation and linking it to Sudan’s initiative, which aims to achieve the same goal," said a statement released by the Sudanese foreign ministry. Last August, the Sudanese government hosted a meeting for peace in CAR including the main armed groups, the Christian anti-Balaka militia of Maxime Mokom and Muslim Seleka armed faction led Noureddine Adam. The Central African government was not part of the Russian brokered meeting. At the end of the meeting, the two groups issued The Khartoum Declaration of Understanding of the Central African Armed Groups where they said they are firmly committed to peace. Further, they called to consider the African initiative. "The meeting confirmed the acceptance by all the concerned parties of the Sudanese initiative which has been adopted by the African Union on the same day by the Head of the Commission, Mr Moussa Faki, in the presence of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and all the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of CAR’s neighbouring states," further said the Sudanese foreign ministry. Sudan which eyes developing trade and business with CAR said committed to curbing weapon trafficking between the troubled central African country and Darfur region. Also, Russian mining firms working in CAR use Port Sudan and Khartoum expects they positively impact Darfur region. (ST)
New US fund buying AXM stock. https://www.streetinsider.com/SEC+F...NTIAL+JENNISON+NATU+For:+Jul+31/14646037.html PGIM Jennison Natural Resources Fund, Inc. Schedule of Investments as of July 31, 2018 (unaudited) (continued) Description Shares Value COMMON STOCKS (Continued) Electrical Components & Equipment 1.9% GrafTech International Ltd.(a) 747,714 $ 15,851,537 Sunrun, Inc.*(a) 816,834 11,550,032 27,401,569 Fertilizers & Agricultural Chemicals 1.8% FMC Corp. 165,991 14,919,271 Nutrien Ltd. (Canada) 209,940 11,380,847 26,300,118 Gold 5.6% Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. (Canada) 460,417 19,282,264 Alacer Gold Corp.*(a) 3,158,225 6,846,442 Algold Resources Ltd. (Canada), 144A*(a) 43,790 3,114 Axmin, Inc. (Canada)* 666,158 70,413 Barrick Gold Corp. (Canada) 22,387 250,511 Guyana Goldfields, Inc. (Canada)* 163,830 503,763 Guyana Goldfields, Inc. (Canada), 144A* 2,654,213 8,161,473 Kinross Gold Corp. (Canada)* 1,959,065 7,052,634 Newmont Mining Corp. 541,196 19,851,069 Randgold Resources Ltd. (United Kingdom), ADR(a) 249,526 18,427,495 80,449,178 Integrated Oil & Gas 5.0% Chevron Corp. 2,445 308,730 Occidental Petroleum Corp. 6,460 542,188 Royal Dutch Shell PLC (Netherlands)(Class A Stock) 809,712 27,750,785 Suncor Energy, Inc. (Canada) 997,990 42,055,299 70,657,002 Oil & Gas Drilling 2.5% Independence Contract Drilling, Inc.* 1,722,043 6,939,833 Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. 1,245,774 21,427,313 Rowan Cos. PLC(Class A Stock)* 486,895 7,050,240 35,417,386 Oil & Gas Equipment & Services 14.5% Baker Hughes a GE Co. 7,956 275,118 Cactus, Inc.(Class A Stock)* 294,649 9,640,915 Core Laboratories NV 140,081 15,705,882 FTS International, Inc.* 522,628 6,271,536
Looks as if the Central African Republic is starting to open up for tourism and business. Lots of changes over the last week since all the meetings between CAR officials, Russia, China, Sudan, African Union, United Nations, and other parties. Recently on Google there have been job postings for gold operations, travel Visa applications offered, and a map that shows just about all airplane terminals in the country safe and operational again. Keep in mind that Axmin Inc (AXM/AXMIF) has the only large scale gold mine in the country with a proven resource and ready to go back into production right away. See links below: CAR Job Posting 1: https://www.worldwide-rs.com/job/general-manager-jobid-j19864 CAR Job Posting 2: https://www.worldwide-rs.com/job/metallurgical-accounting-superitendent-jobid-j19270 Visa Travel Offer For The Central African Republic: https://www.visahq.ca/central-african-republic/ Operational Flight Routes In The Central African Republic: https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/caf_unhas_routes_a4l_20181003_0.pdf Trip Advisor Offering Flights To The CAR: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Flights-g293777-Bangui-Cheap_Discount_Airfares.html
Bodes well from AXM given the size of proven deposit and how low the cost is for production. Barrick/Randgold has recently set the trend that Central Africa is the place to be. Rick Rule, Chairman of Sprott US Holdings, discusses the increasing trend of M&A's in the Gold Mining Sector. He covers what's likely to come next, the types of companies which attract M&A, and how M&A's are impacting the mining sector overall. TOPICS IN THIS INTERVIEW: 00:32 Growing M&A Trend In Gold & Mining Companies 02:32 Logic Behind Recent M&A Transactions 05:05 What Types of Companies Are Fertile For Acquisition 07:31 What Makes A Deposit A Good Take-Out Target 08:27 'Optionality' Deposits Are Something Much Different 09:51 How Does M&A 'Trickle-Down' And Affect Sector?
Moscow to Establish Military Representation in CAR https://sputniknews.com/africa/201810091068711525-russia-car-defense-ministry-representation/ 1:23 09.10.2018(updated 01:38 09.10.2018) MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russia will offer the Central African Republic (CAR) to establish a representation of the Russian Defense Ministry at the CAR Defense Ministry, according to a document published on the official portal of legal information on Monday. "To approve the draft agreement between the governments of Russia and the CAR, submitted by the Russian Defense Ministry and coordinated with the Russian Foreign Ministry, on the establishment of a representation of the Russian Defense Ministry at the CAR Defense Ministry," the document reads. The Russian Defense Ministry is expected to hold talks with the CAR and on behalf of the Russian government, to sign the agreement. Non-fundamental changes to the draft are allowed if necessary, the statement adds. The goal of the draft deal is to assist the CAR in resolving issues of military and defense industry cooperation, as well as to train the CAR military personnel by the Russian specialists, the statement reads. According to the project, the representation will be maintained at the expense of the Russian side, and will consist of five people. The staff of the mission will not participate in hostilities in the territory of the CAR. If they find themselves in an emergency situation, the CAR authorities will take measures to ensure their safety, the document says. Since 2012, the CAR has been destabilized by the conflict between the Muslim armed group Seleka, Christian Anti-balaka militias and the government. In late August, Seleka and Anti-balaka signed a declaration of understanding after a Russia-brokered peace meeting in Khartoum.
CAR President To Speak At World Investment Forum (Oct.22-26) http://worldinvestmentforum.unctad....rg/speaker/h-e-prof-faustin-archange-toudera/ http://worldinvestmentforum.unctad....nvestmentforum.unctad.org/homepage/about-wif/ ABOUT THE WORLD INVESTMENT FORUM The UNCTAD World Investment Forum is the pre-eminent global platform for investment and development. The Forum devises strategies and solutions for global investment and development challenges. It facilitates multi-stakeholder collective action to stimulate investment in development. The Forum offers a unique opportunity to influence investment-related policymaking, shape the global investment environment, and to network with global leaders in business and politics. 2018 marks the 10th anniversary of the Forum. Previous editions took place in Accra (2008), Xiamen (2010), Doha (2012), Geneva (2014) and Nairobi (2016), The Forum was set up to fill the investment institutional gap in the international economic governance architecture. Since its inception it has served as the leading forum to leverage investment policy for sustainable development. The Forum biennually gathers more than 4,000 investment stakeholders from 160 countries. The stakeholder landscape encompasses high-level participants from the global investment community, including Heads of State and Government, ministers, executives of global companies and stock exchanges, sovereign wealth fund managers, investment treaty negotiators, heads of investment promotion agencies, international investment location experts, heads of international organizations, parliamentarians, civil society representatives, eminent scholars, and the international media. THE WORLD INVESTMENT FORUM 2018 Organized under the overall theme Investing in Sustainable Development, the Forum will address global challenges for international investment in the new era of globalization and industrialization. Investment stakeholders will gather to brainstorm solution-oriented initiatives and build global partnerships to advance prosperity for all. In 2018 the World Investment Forum will bring more actors to the table including philanthropists, impact fund headsand other sustainability pioneers. More than 5,000 investment stakeholders are anticipated to converge in Geneva for the event. Download the official UNCTAD Notification for the 2018 Forum here:
AXMIN Announces Settlement of Accounts Payable 2018-10-10 09:35 MT - News Release Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 10, 2018) - AXMIN Inc. (TSXV: AXM) ("AXMIN" or the "Company") announces that it has entered into an agreement to settle a long standing accounts payable by the Company. As previously announced on November 15, 2013, the Company entered into a consultancy agreement (the "Consulting Agreement") to assist AXMIN with securing its ownership of licenses in the Central African Republic. Under this Consulting Agreement the consultant was entitled to remuneration upon the successful completion of its services. The total outstanding payments due under this Consulting Agreement amount to US$2 million and were duly recorded in the Company's accounts payable. The Company has benefited from the renewal of its respective licenses and permits and is in good standing with the Government of the Central African Republic. After extended negotiations as referenced in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company has agreed to a settlement of this accounts payable by making a payment of US$1.2 million and the issuance of 3.46 million shares at a price of C$0.30 per share (the "Settlement Agreement"). The transaction relating to the Settlement Agreement was unanimously approved by the Board of AXMIN, and has also received conditional approval from the TSX Venture Exchange; closing of the transaction will occur immediately following final approval from the TSX Venture Exchange. The shares issued pursuant to the above-referenced Settlement Agreement will be subject to transfer restrictions under a two (2) year lock-up agreement, during which time the shares may not be sold. The transfer restrictions under the lock-up agreement will expire two (2) years plus one day from the date of grant. AXMIN Chairman Lucy Yan said, "The Company appreciates the assistance and value provided during this difficult period of force majeure. AXMIN also appreciates the patience provided in settling this long outstanding invoice and the confidence expressed in our Company by the acceptance of shares in lieu of a cash payment. The resulting improvement of AXMIN's balance sheet is very good news for our Company and we look forward to getting back on site in the Central African Republic as soon as possible." About AXMIN AXMIN is a Canadian exploration and development company with a strong focus on the African continent. AXMIN continues to closely monitor the political situation at its Feasibility Stage Passendro Gold Project in the Central African Republic. For more information regarding AXMIN visit our website at www.axmininc.com. For additional information, please contact AXMIN Inc.: Lucy Yan Chairman and CEO [email protected] AXMIN Inc. General Enquiries Jin Kuang Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary [email protected] 604-339-7688 Investor Relations [email protected] www.axmininc.com
Axmin 3.46 million shares for debt 2018-10-12 15:55 MT - Shares for Debt The TSX Venture Exchange has accepted for filing the company's proposal to issue 3.46 million shares to settle outstanding debt for $1,038,000. Number of creditors: one creditor For further details, please refer to the company's news release dated Oct. 10, 2018. © 2018 Canjex Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.
Article - France Urges EU To Help Stabilize The Central African Republic https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/f...an-attending-foreign-affairs-council-15-10-18 CAR. At France’s request and amid the growing influence of foreign actors, the ministers will discuss the situation in the Central African Republic. The minister will call for strengthened EU action alongside that of the African Union, the countries in the region and the UN, to support the country’s stabilization and the restoration of State authority. This will include support for Central African domestic security forces in addition to the EU’s already considerably support for the Central African armed forces via EUTM RCA. All European partners must mobilize to help this country.
http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article66426 SUNDAY 14 OCTOBER 2018 Sudan’s FM to meet Deby, Touadéra over peace in Central African Republic October 14, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan’s foreign minister will travel to Ndjamena and Bangui on Monday to discuss his government efforts to settle the armed conflict in the neighbouring Central African Republic. Last month in a meeting held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, the African Union integrated the Sudanese initiative to end the armed conflict in the Central African Republic (CAR) between Muslim and Christian militias that continue to destabilize the country despite the deployment of a UN peacekeeping mission. In a statement released on Sunday, the Sudanese foreign ministry said Minister El-Dirdeiry Ahmed will hand over a message from President Omer al-Bashir to President Idriss Deby of Chad and President Faustin-Archange Touadéra of CAR. The Sudanese initiative, which involves Russia also, provides to bring together the leaders of the warring armed groups to discuss ways to end the conflict and build confidence between the different communities in the country in order to repair social fabric. The African Union has its African Initiative for Peace and Reconciliation, however, the mediators failed to bring the armed groups together. Last August, the Sudanese government hosted a meeting including the main armed groups, the Christian anti-Balaka militia of Maxime Mokom and Muslim Seleka armed faction led Noureddine Adam. At the end of the two-day meeting on 29 August, the two groups signed a framework agreement pledging to cease hostilities and to not obstruct free movement of persons and goods with the neighbouring countries and committed themselves to the African Union process for peace and reconciliation in CAR. Khartoum counts on Chad which has good relations with the Seleka militia group to support its efforts to achieve peace in the landlocked country which has growing commercial relations with Sudan. (ST)
Central African Republic: Council adopts conclusions https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/...-african-republic-council-adopts-conclusions/ On 15 October 2018, the Council discussed and adopted conclusions on the Central African Republic. In its conclusions, the Council underlines that the situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) is still very fragile and that the EU remains engaged in support of the country. The EU emphasises the need to continue working, through its various instruments, to help the CAR get back on the road to stability, peace and development and to meet the aspirations of its entire population for lasting peace and reconciliation. The EU reiterates its support for the African Initiative for Peace and Reconciliation under the auspices of the African Union and the leadership of President Touadéra to reach a peace and reconciliation agreement, to create the conditions for the complete disarmament of armed groups and to strengthen State authority, while preserving the unity and integrity of the CAR. The EU also stresses the importance of inclusive involvement of all institutions and all actors of Central African society, including women, youth and civil society. The EU calls on all international actors, especially those engaged in the CAR, to support the action of the government and the African Initiative in a properly coordinated and fully transparent manner. The Council also welcomes the commitment of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in CAR (MINUSCA), in particular to support the CAR authorities in carrying out the security sector reform process and to help them restore State authority. The Council emphasises that the security situation, including hybrid threats, confirms the need to continue to strengthen the Central African Armed Forces (FACA), and welcomes the request by the CAR for additional assistance for the Internal Security Forces, notably by means of civilian engagement. Ministers invited the EEAS to establish and deploy as soon as possible a civil-military interoperability pillar within EUTM RCA, tasked with providing strategic advice in this area. The EU remains concerned by the humanitarian situation in the CAR and emphasises the need for the international community to mobilise in response to the humanitarian emergency, and reiterates its own ongoing engagement through the Bêkou Trust Fund. The EU remains strongly committed to the CAR, with an envelope of EUR 487 million allocated for the period 2017-2020.
AXM Technical Chart Information http://canada.stoxline.com/q_ca.php?s=axm.v (AXM.V) 0.290.015 (5.45%) 10-18 15:57 Open: 0.27 Prev Close: 0.275 High: 0.295 Low: 0.27 Volume: 95,900 Market Cap: 38M Year High: 0.3 Year Low: 0.03 Stock Technical Analysis Overall Targets Six months: 0.34 One year: 0.40 Supports Support1: 0.20 Support2: 0.14 Resistances Resistance1: 0.29 Resistance2: 0.34 Pivot Point 0.23 Moving Averages MA(5): 0.27 MA(20): 0.23 MA(100): 0.17 MA(250): 0.10 MACD MACD(12,26): 0.02 Signal(12,26,9): 0.01 Stochastic Oscillator %K(14,3): 92.98 %D(3): 83.81 RSI RSI(14): 69.53 52-Week High: 0.29 Low: 0.03 Change(%): 480.0 Average Volume(K) 3-Month: 11588 10-Days: 10171 Moving Averages analysis Price and moving averages has closed above its Short term moving average. Short term moving average is currently above mid-term; AND above long term moving averages. From the relationship between price and moving averages; we can see that: This stock is BULLISH in short-term; and BULLISH in mid-long term. Bollinger Bands Analysis AXM.V has closed below upper band by 4.7%. Bollinger Bands are 173% wider than normal. The large width of the bands suggest high volatility as compared to AXM.V's normal range. The bands have been in this wide range for 2 bars. This is a sign that the current trend might continue. Stock News Financials EPS 0.010 EPS Est. Current Year EPS Est. Next Year EPS Est. Next Quarter Forward EPS 1.#IO Shares Out. (M) 130.50 Shares Float (M) 48.16 Book Value (p.s.) -0.010 PEG Ratio Profit Margin 78.02 Operating Margin 76.96 Return on Assets (ttm) 58.5 Return on Equity (ttm) Qtrly Rev. Growth 57.9 Gross Profit (p.s.) 0.012 Sales Per Share EBITDA (p.s.) Qtrly Earnings Growth 64.60 Operating Cash Flow (M) 1.19 Levered Free Cash Flow (M) 0.73 Valuation P/E 29.00 P/E Growth Ratio 0.04 P/BV -29.00 P/S 3784499968.00 P/CF 31.80
Russia to send more military trainers, equipment to Central African Republic https://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFL8N1WZ4XZ MOSCOW, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Russia said on Friday it planned to send additional military equipment to Central African Republic (CAR) and deploy 60 more instructors to train the country’s armed forces, escalating its most significant military foray in Africa in decades. Russia donated hundreds of weapons and sent 175 trainers to CAR earlier this year to bolster the government’s fight against militia groups after receiving an exemption from a United Nations arms embargo. According to diplomatic and security sources, many of the Russians in CAR are private security contractors and their remit has expanded into mediating negotiations among armed groups, securing mining projects and advising CAR’s president. Russia’s activities in CAR are part of a wider push to re-establish influence in sub-Saharan Africa that waned after the Cold War. It has signed military cooperation deals with 19 countries since 2015 and expanded diplomatic and trading ties. In one of its most extensive comments to date on the subject, Russia’s foreign ministry defended its actions in a statement against what it said was “a certain ‘jealousy’” by other foreign powers over Russia’s role in CAR. “We believe this kind of position to be counter-productive, particularly in the current context, when constructive cooperation of all international ‘players’ and not competition or ‘zero-sum games’ is urgently called for,” it said. “With the knowledge of a relevant U.N. Security Council committee we are planning to send to CAR an additional 60 civilian instructors and the second part of military purpose products.” According to a confidential memo seen by Reuters, the Security Council’s 15-member CAR sanctions committee agreed last month to Russia’s request to send the 60 additional instructors, provided they coordinate with CAR’s U.N. peacekeeping mission. But France, the United States and Britain placed a hold in August on further arms shipments pending confirmation that measures had been taken to secure the previous donation. Estimates of the total number of Russians in CAR vary widely, from 250 to 1,000. The foreign ministry did not respond directly to questions about the presence of private security contractors. CAR has faced near-constant armed conflict since 2013, when a mostly Muslim Seleka rebel coalition overthrew then-president Francois Bozize, prompting reprisals from Christian ‘anti-balaka’ militias. (Reporting By Maria Tsvetkova; Writing by Aaron Ross)
UN Summary Report For CAR (From June 15th 2018 to October 15th 2018) - In PDF Form https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/N1830975.pdf Note - This is a report from the UN(MINUSCA) and does not detail the effort and support from other groups such as the EU(European Union), Russia, AU(African Union), China, USA, France, etc. Opinions have not been posted below as this is just one perspective from an individual writing the report. The key notes below are meant to show actual events compared to what the writer is actually talking about or speculates. I have condensed everything and taken out all the important key notes of events that have taken place over the four month period. Total - 21 Pages (12-21 are personal opinions and have not been posted) Page 3 The African Initiative is widely recognized among all stakeholders as the ma in principle framework for the peace process in the Central African Republic, although its operationalization has taken time and it lacks the required resources. One year after the adoption of the Libreville road map, the Initiative’s panel of facilitators concluded its “listening tours” with the 14 main armed groups. At the most recent meeting, held in Bouar from 28 to 30 August, the panel helped to harmonize the groups’ demands, which were subsequently submitted to President Touadéra for consideration by the Government. This represents an important preparatory step towards dialogue between the Government and armed groups, tentatively scheduled for November. The panel also consulted two exiled former Heads of State, Francois Bozizé and Michel Djotodia. In July 2018, the Initiative, with support from the Peacebuilding Fund, organized training sessions to prepare armed groups, government representatives and political and social leaders for direct dialogue, with the support of the Community of Sant’Egidio and the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes. The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) organized workshops and seminars to engage women and yo ung people On 28 August 2018, a meeting was convened in Khartoum with the three main ex-Séléka factions and one anti-balaka faction, with the support of the Russian Federation. That followed an earlier meeting in Khartoum on 10 July that only the Front populaire pour la renaissance de la Centrafrique attended. The second meeting resulted in a declaration, by which armed factions pledged their support for peace and dialogue within the framework of the African Initiative. In Bangassou, a local agreement was signed in April 2018, complemented by the arrest of militia leaders, disarmament through community violence reduction programmes, the deployment of units of the Central African armed forces trained by the European Union Training Mission and intercommunal dialogue by local leaders. Those efforts have produced a noticeable decline in attacks on civilians in recent months. In Bangui, intercommunal dialogue in the city’s third district facilitated the gradual return of people displaced following Operation Sukula. Local peace and reconciliation processes in Markounda and Zemio have helped to reduce violence, Page 4 (continued from page 3) increase freedom of movement and facilitate the return of State authorities. Similarly, in Bouar, they have helped to eliminate illegal checkpoints, stop intercommunal violence and secure a commitment from the armed group Retour, réclamations, réhabilitation to demobilize and disarm as part of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programme. In July, that group and anti-balaka leaders in Bouar destroyed 1,652 weapons that had been collected through community violence reduction programmes, symbolizing their commitment to disarming. The Government, with MINUSCA support, also established eight new local peace and reconciliation committees across the country. Page 5 Out of a total of 7,087 verified soldiers of the Central African armed forces, 243 have been deployed in Am Dafok, Boali, Bouar and Moungounba without MINUSCA or partner support. A total of 612 personnel trained by the European Union Training Mission have so far been deployed in Bangassou, Bouar, Dekoa, Obo, Paoua and Sibut, working alongside MINUSCA. The Central African armed forces has received contributions from bilateral partners, including armaments, vehicles, communications and other equipment. MINUSCA is responsible for the ad hoc supplies of fuel in Bangassou, Obo and Paoua, which it then receives in the same quantities by the Government in Bangui. The majority of the 3,232 police and gendarme officers remain in Bangui owing to a lack of essential equipment and logistics necessary to deploy new recruits throughout the country as planned (new EU & Russia support will resolve this) Page 7 During the reporting period, several initiatives were undertaken to help the Government to re-establish the rule of law and State authority and to provide services in response to citizens’ request. MINUSCA and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) supported the organization of the 2018 national baccalauréat exams. MINUSCA and UNDP worked with the Government to develop “Lisango 2.0”, a software to facilitate the planning of civil servant deployments. In August, five new prefects, including three women, were nominated to replace the retired prefects of Bamingui-Bangoran, Basse-Kotto, Mbomou, Nana-Gribizi and Nana-Mambéré. The Special Criminal Court rules of procedure and evidence were promulgated on 2 July 2018. The Court is actively working, with MINUSCA support, to develop its prosecutorial and case selection strategy. The judiciary resumed criminal sessions in several areas, with support from MINUSCA and UNDP. The Bangui Court of Appeal held its second criminal session from 16 July to 31 August, in which 15 cases were heard, including several related to the conflict. In August, the Bossangoa High Court resumed its criminal sessions, which had been suspended since 2013. However, in general the capacity and functioning of other national judicial and corrections structures, particularly outside Bangui, remained limited. The Mission continued to support the demilitarization of prisons, including the recruitment of 150 out of a total of 300 prison officers. The Mission apprehended nine high-profile individuals using its urgent temporary measures and supported the transfer to Bangui of 54 detainees, including anti-balaka leader Pino-Pino, who had been accused of involvement in attacks against civilians and peacekeepers in May 2017. Page 8 MINUSCA is supporting the Government’s launch of its disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programme, starting in the west with seven armed groups, and continued to expand community violence reduction programmes in six locations for 5,100 beneficiaries. The Government continued to engage with other armed groups to reach further agreements and extend disarmament and demobilization to other parts of the country On 4 July 2018, the National Assembly adopted a law establishing a High Council on Security to ensure greater accountability and civilian oversight over the security sector. On 24 August, the President approved the Government’s proposal to reserve 10 per cent of new posts in the Central African armed forces and security forces for former combatants, until 2021. At the request of the Government, MINUSCA started to support the recruitment of 1,023 Central African armed forces personnel, using quotas to ensure fair geographic and gender balance. In August, the European Union Training Mission concluded the training of the third infantry battalion of the Central African armed forces. On 30 July, the mandate of the European Union Training Mission was extended until 19 September 2020 The 500 new police and gendarmerie recruits were scheduled to complete their general training and start specialized training by the end of October 2018. MINUSCA, through the Mine Action Service, continued to support weapons and ammunition management by assisting the national defence and security forces with infrastructure planning and refresher training Page 9 MINUSCA and the United Nations country team, along with other partners, have supported the Government in the implementation of the National Re covery and Peacebuilding Plan for the period 2017–2021, to which donors have pledged some $2.2 billion. The biannual review in June and July showed an increase in the delivery rate of funds to 49 per cent, although disbursement remained slow. The Mutual Engagement Framework biannual review highlighted the need to strengthen national capacities at all levels and to improve national ownership of the Plan and Framework. It highlighted the urgent actions required to achieve peacebuilding priorities, including the swift adoption of laws and regulations to launch the preparation for elections and further deployments of the Central African armed forces and internal security forces alongside MINUSCA. Efforts continued for the development of the sectoral strategies, policies, plans and frameworks that were essential for accelerating the programming and delivery of the resources mobilized so far and for translating them into peace dividends for the population The International Monetary Fund reviewed the country’s Extended Credit Facility Agreement and approved in July a disbursement of $32.1 million. A portion would be used to pay 2003 salary arrears of civil servants and the gradual settlement of domestic debt with private companies. In June, the National Assembl y adopted a revised finance bill that increased social spending and public investments. Page 10 As at 1 October, MINUSCA had deployed 11,170 military personnel, 3.17 per cent of whom were women. That figure represents 95.88 per cent of the total authorized strength of 11,650 personnel. The MINUSCA force currently comprises 10 infantry battalions, two quick-reaction battle groups, a reserve battalion, a special forces company, a quick-reaction force company and several enabling units, including a military police company, five engineering companies, a heavy transport company, three level-II hospitals, a level-1-plus forward surgery module and three helicopter units, including a combat helicopter unit. The Mission, with guidance from United Nations Headquarters, is reviewing its capabilities and response procedures in order to improve the casualty evacuation support As at 1 October 2018, a total of 750 troops out of the 900 authorized by the Security Council were operational. The remaining troops are expected to reach full operational capability by end of November, with specialized equipment, including reconnaissance and high-mobility armoured vehicles, as well as enablers, such as engineering vehicles, logistics and medical equipment. MINUSCA will reinforce its military posture with two highly mobile battalions, designed as joint task forces composed of three companies, capable of deploying simultaneously and operating autonomously, with integrated force multipliers. They will act as quick-reaction forces, tasked to address particularly difficult security situations. As at 1 October, MINUSCA had deployed 1,918 police personnel, representing 92.21 per cent of the authorized strength of 2,080. That number comprised 385 individual police officers, including 52 women, representing 96.25 per cent of the authorized strength of 400. Ten formed police units and two protection support units comprising 1,533 officers, including 102 women, were also deployed, representing 91.25 per cent of the authorized strength of 1,680. The transformation of the police protection unit into a formed unit remained pending owing to equipment constraints of the contributing country. Once addressed, the more mobile unit will deploy to Berberati and Bossangoa As at 1 October, MINUSCA had deployed 1,384 civilian personnel (1,151 staff members and 233 United Nations Volunteers) representing 90 per cent of the total 1,524 authorized positions. Furthermore, 273 women constituted 23.7 per cent of the civilian personnel, with 21.5 per cent in positions at the P-5 level or higher The Mission continues to work closely with the Government to address a number of violations related to the status-of-forces agreement, including the import of critical equipment Page 11 The Mission has strengthened its efforts to address performance in a series of actions encompassing training, equipment, evaluation and leadership. The Mission is serving as a pilot for the implementation of the Comprehensive Performance Assessment System of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, and is developing indicators to measure whole-of-mission performance against its strategic objectives. Since the launch in September 2017 of the online military performance assessment tool, MINUSCA has conducted evaluations of several units, which were mostly assessed as satisfactory, and it is now implementing performance improvement plans as needed, including on the basis of those evaluations. MINUSCA has been an early adopter of innovative technologies in support of operations and force protection. It has made progress in implementing the recommendations contained in the report on the independent investigation by Brigadier General (Retired) Amoussou to improve the Mission’s response to protect civilians, as well as the action plan to reduce peacekeeper fatalities following the report by Lieutenant General (Retired) dos Santos Cruz,1 which has already produced results, with six peacekeeper casualties in 2018 due to malicious acts, compared to 12 in the same period in 2017, although injuries have increased to 34 in 2018 from 18 in 2017. MINUSCA has also made significant improvements in personnel accommodation. Notes - Pages 12-21 are personal notes and opinions and have been not been posted and these are the thoughts and expressions of one individual and do not take into the account the support from other countries and institutions (Russia, China, France, EU, AU, Sudan, etc). MINUSCA is a support group but does not have the full power or ability to change things. This is more in the hands of the other groups who have more influence and pull within CAR and work much closer to government officials
Two more updates signaling additional support for the Central African Republic. Keeping in mind that the faster things get secured, the sooner Axmin can go back to work on it's proven multi million ounce gold deposit Russia ready to send more military instructors to Central African Republic - http://tass.com/politics/1027111 Engility to support logistics training in Central African Republic - https://www.prnewswire.com/news-rel...ng-in-central-african-republic-300734421.html
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https://www.yahoo.com/news/central-african-republic-begin-disarming-groups-years-end-164106706.html Central African Republic to begin disarming groups by year's end: UN envoy AFP•October 23, 2018 Peacekeepers from Gabon on patrol in the city of Bria in the Central African Republic (AFP Photo/SABER JENDOUBI) United Nations (United States) (AFP) - Before the end of the year the Central African Republic will begin disarming illegal groups in the western part of the country, UN envoy Parfait Onanga-Anyanga told the Security Council Tuesday. There has been progress in starting a peace process since a UN peacekeeping force was established in the CAR in 2014 to stamp out inter-communal violence in the country, Onanga-Anyanga said. "This progress that we have made together makes me hopeful that we have laid the foundations needed to build sustainable peace," he said. A half-dozen armed groups have committed to a national disarmament, demobilization and reinsertion program, Onanga-Anyanga said. "The government will begin the disarmament of certain of these groups in the west of the country before the end of the year," he said. French Ambassador Francois Delattre emphasized, however, that "the message to the armed groups must be clear. "They must lay down their arms and join the peace process without delay and without conditions, and know that the violence they engage in will not go unpunished," he said. Since 2013, much of the Central African Republic has been at the mercy of armed groups that plunder the country's gold, diamond and oil deposits, posing a formidable obstacle to peace and national reconciliation. Many of these groups claim to protect Christian or Muslim communities, and often battle over resources. Onanga-Anyanga pointed to the opening session Monday of a long-planned Special Criminal Court in Central Africa as an "important step" against impunity. The court consists of 25 judges -- 13 from the CAR and 12 foreigners -- and will decide cases involving violations of human rights or international humanitarian law committed in the country since 2003. One of the world's poorest and most unstable countries, the CAR spiralled into bloodshed after longtime leader Francois Bozize was overthrown in 2013 by a mainly Muslim rebel alliance called the Seleka.
Russia Pledges Continued Support for Central African Republic Security https://sputniknews.com/africa/201810241069157151-russia-car-security-support/ 03:44 24.10.2018Get short URL 0 20 WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Russia plans to continue providing security assistance to the Central African Republic government in an effort to end a far-flung insurgency in which authorities in the capital of Bangui are attempting to wrest control of much of the nation from more than a dozen rebel groups, Russia’s Envoy to the UN Vassily Nebenzia said. "Russia will continue to provide support to the CAR[Central African Republic] in reforming its national security sector, including in strengthening the battle readiness and battle capacity of the armed forces of the country," Nebenzia told the UN Security Council on Tuesday. © AP PHOTO / JEROME DELAY Things to Know About the Russian Mission in Central African Republic Nebenzia noted that Russian military experts have managed to achieve "significant results" by training more than 1,000 soldiers of the CAR army. In addition, Nebenzia pledged increased Russian humanitarian assistance to CAR, in particular by providing medical services to the population. On Monday, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced plans to send 60 additional military advisers to the CAR to complement 175 advisers dispatched to the country earlier this year along with a shipment of small arms. READ MORE: France Officially Ends Military Operation in Central African Republic The CAR government is battling 14 rebel groups that control much of the nation outside Bangui, according to published reports.
