Govt and APRD, UFDR rebel groups 21 June signed comprehensive peace agreement; third remaining armed group FDPC leader absent, but deal still open. CAR added 12 June to UN Peacebuilding Commission agenda.

Govt peace deal with APRD, last rebel group to join peace process, signed Libreville 9 May ahead of 8 June all-inclusive talks: secured ceasefire, APRD amnesty, prisoner release but excluded key provisions on demobilisation. DRC opposition leader Bemba arrested in Belgium on ICC warrant 24 May for 2002-3 atrocities during military support for then president Patassé. UN 23 May reported upsurge in banditry adding to devastating humanitarian situation. UNSR Coomaraswamy 26 May began 6-day mission to assess child soldier recruitment in CAR, Chad.

Major cross-border attack 29 Feb by Chadian army reported: 4 killed, 6 villages razed, some 3,000 fled to Chad. Rebel Popular Army for the Restoration of the Republic and Democracy (APRD) said 5 soldiers, 1 rebel killed in 4-5 March fighting. UN reported 150 abducted in early March raids on remote border towns – 55 children, 40 adults remain missing; amid reports Ugandan LRA leader Joseph Kony moved to CAR (see Uganda). Unidentified gunman killed woman in Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) ambulance 10 March, forcing MSF drawdown. Some 200 French soldiers in north eastern Birao transferred to EU peacekeeping force 8 March, formally launching CAR EUFOR deployment.

EU peacekeeping (EUFOR) deployment resumed 12 Feb (see Chad). Government reported 19 Feb president and spokesman of rebel Union for Democratic Forces for Unity (UFDR), held in Benin since Nov 2006, released for peace talks. UN special rapporteur Philip Alston reported end to government’s “scorched earth tactics” in north 8 Feb, but unclear if security forces definitively reined in. Some 200 LRA rebels reportedly entered CAR 18 Feb from DR Congo, killing several civilians (see Uganda).

EU peacekeeping (EUFOR) deployment due early Feb. PM Elie Dote and government resigned 18 Jan ahead of parliamentary  censure  vote and during general strike. Unions launched strike 2 Jan to demand payment of 7-month arrears in civil servant salaries. President François Bozizé appointed university professor Faustin Archange Touadera PM, by decree, 22 Jan; new cabinet includes Bozizé family members. Bozizé threatened to confront unions with “all means available”.

Insecurity continued in north with limited progress on political dialogue. President Francois Bozize established committee 1 December to prepare dialogue with opposition and rebel groups. Committee has 90 days to report before talks to be organised in Bangui. All groups designated representatives except APRD and UFDR.

Rebels in north west reportedly killed soldier in attack on main road between Bocaranga and Bang, 26 November.

President Francois Bozize presented new development strategy to EU and UN in Brussels 26 October: called for $1.6 billion for projects, including military reform.

UN Security Council approved UN/EU force to provide security for refugees in CAR/Chad border areas 25 September. 300 UN police (MINURCAT) in Chad to be supported by up to 4,000 mainly French EU troops: not more than 200 in north east CAR (see Chad). Government forces killed 9 gunmen near Chadian border 14 September in operation targeting banditry. Human Rights Watch condemned atrocities by military since beginning of conflict in 2005, with specific mention of President François Bozize’s personal guard.

UN Sec. Gen. Ban Ki-moon presented revised plan 10 August for UN presence in Chad and north eastern CAR, including EU military force (see Chad). February peace deal with 2 main rebel groups FDPC and UFDR still stalled; leaders rejected presidential adviser posts. Insecurity widespread in FDPC stronghold Ouham Pendé Prefecture: 7 kidnapped early August.