Ban, Yaya Touré and Angélique Kidjo call for peace in the CAR

26 Feb 2014

Ban, Yaya Touré and Angélique Kidjo call for peace in the CAR

Bangui, 26 February, 2014 – Since Saturday, 22 February, the main radio stations in the Central African Republic (CAR) have been broadcasting messages from the Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, and world stars calling on the people of the CAR to end the bloodshed and lay down their arms.

In his message, the Secretary General stated that: "Muslims and Christians have built this country together. I know you will do so again."

From the Tuesday, 25 February, Central Africans have also been hearing from Ivorian footballer Yaya Toure calling on them to reconcile. Yaya Toure is the best African player of the year and also a goodwill ambassador of the UN Environment Programme for (UNEP).

On Wednesday, 26 February, the Secretary-General and the football star were joined on air by Angélique Kidjo, a Grammy award-winning singer from Benin and goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF.

The UN informs that other global figure are set to join in the effort, including and former French footballer Lilian Thuram, whose team won the FIFA world cup in 1998.

All these calls are particularly aimed at the country’s youth, many of whom are involved in the ongoing violence.

The initiative follows the presentation of a six-point initiative for the CAR by the Secretary General to the Security Council on 20 February. In his remarks, the Secretary-General pleaded for rapid reinforcement of the African Union and French troops. He also proposed that all international forces in the CAR be brought under a coordinated command, and that the African troops which join this force be provided with logistic and financial support.

Finally, the Secretary-General also called for rapid, tangible support to the government of the CAR and appealed for urgent funding for humanitarian aid.