The government of Central African Republic on Wednesday signed a deal with armed groups in control of most of the country, aimed at ending a bloody, years-long conflict.

"The first effect of this agreement is the cessation of all violence against civilians," President Faustin-Archange Touadera said at the signing ceremony, although he gave no details about the pact.

"For us, this day is a historic moment which enshrines the culmination of nearly three years of efforts," Touadera said, adding he was "holding out a hand to our brothers and sisters in the armed groups."

Touadera said he would make a series of trips across the country "to bring the message of peace to (our) compatriots".

The deal had been initialled in Khartoum on Tuesday after lengthy talks brokered by the African Union and supported by the United Nations.

The leaders of the two biggest armed groups -- Ali Darassa of the Unity for Peace in Central African Republic (UPC) and Noureddine Adam of the Popular Front for the Renaissance of the Central African Republic (FPRC) -- initialled the text in Khartoum but were not present for Wednesday's signing.

The ceremony took place in a room of the presidential palace where a large dais was installed, with a giant flag of the CAR as a backdrop.

The accord is the eighth attempt in nearly six years to forge peace in the war-ravaged country -- one of the poorest in the world.

The conflict has left thousands dead and forced a quarter of the population of 4.5 million from their homes. The rural exodus, the UN warned last year, could drive the country into famine.

- History of failures -

All seven previous peace agreements failed to stick.

The last deal, forged in 2017 with the help of the Catholic Church, lasted less than a day before violence erupted anew, claiming nearly a hundred lives.

"The real challenge will be following up this agreement," the head of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, cautioned on Wednesday.

"It should not be the umpteenth (failed) agreement, as cynics say," he added. "We will be very watchful about the effective application of it."

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres issued a statement hailing the deal and urging CAR's neighbours and partners to support the peace process.

But he also highlighted the need to consolidate the accord in its early phases, calling on "all stakeholders to live up to their commitments in the implementation period."

Touadera said a truth and reconciliation commission -- a mechanism conceived years ago to help ease tensions -- would start its work "by the end of the year".

The CAR plunged into crisis in 2012, when a mainly Muslim rebel movement called the Seleka rose in the north of the country.

The following year, the insurgents overthrew President Francois Bozize, a Christian, triggering a predominantly Christian militia called the anti-Balaka.

France, the former colonial ruler, intervened militarily under a UN mandate as fears grew of a Rwandan-style genocide.

The Seleka were forced from power and in February 2016, Touadera, a former prime minister, was elected president.

However militia groups, often portraying themselves as defenders of a community or religious group, still control some 80 percent of the country.

Fighting often erupts between these forces over control of the country's lavish mineral resources, which range from gold and diamonds to uranium.

Touadera is supported by 13,000 troops and police in the United Nations' MINUSCA mission, one of the UN's biggest peacekeeping operations.

- Amnesty issue -

One of the biggest stumbling blocks on the road to peace has been demands by rebel leaders to be granted amnesties -- a condition that Touadera, under pressure from western partners, has traditionally refused.

Several leaders face UN sanctions or have been accused by rights groups of abuses, and others face the notional risk of arrest in CAR itself.

A Special Criminal Court opened last year, tasked with determining cases involving violations of human rights or international humanitarian law committed since 2003, including war crimes and genocide.

But it says its scope of work is likely to be limited by funds.

Central Africa: plagued by violence since 2013 coup
Bangui, Central African Republic (AFP) Feb 6, 2019 - Central African Republic plunged into bloody sectarian violence in 2013 with the overthrow of president Francois Bozize by mainly Muslim rebels, prompting a counter-offensive by Christian militias.

Here is a snapshot of the main events.

- Coup -

On March 24, 2013 rebels from a Muslim-dominated coalition called Seleka -- which means "alliance" in the Sango language -- seize the capital Bangui after running battles with government forces.

Bozize, a Christian who has been in power for 10 years, flees.

Seleka leader Michel Djotodia proclaims himself president of the predominantly Christian country.

European Union condemns the coup as "unacceptable" and the African Union suspends the country's membership.

In early September, around 100 people are killed in two days of fighting between Seleka rebels and Christians loyal to Bozize around Bossangoa, 250 kilometres (155 miles) northwest of the capital.

Christians form vigilante self-defence groups that are known as anti-Balaka, which means anti-machete.

- France intervenes -

With sectarian violence engulfing the country, leaving hundreds dead, former colonial power France intervenes, sending troops in under a UN mandate in early December.

A combined force of 2,000 French troops and 4,000 African Union soldiers is put in place.

In January 2014, Djotodia resigns under international pressure over his failure to end the violence. Parliament elects an interim president.

In September, a new UN mission known as MINUSCA takes over from the African MISCA force.

- 'Thousands' killed -

In January 2015, a UN investigation concludes that both sides in the conflict had committed crimes against humanity, including "ethnic cleansing", but found the international intervention helped avoid a genocide.

It put the death toll in the "thousands".

In December that year, voters overwhelmingly back a constitutional referendum creating a sixth republic and setting a two-term limit to the presidency.

In a run-off vote on February 14, 2016 former prime minister Faustin-Archange Touadera is elected president.

France ends its military operation in late October.

- Renewed violence -

Sectarian violence flares again in May 2017 in the central towns of Bangassou, Alindao and Bria, forcing tens of thousands to flee.

The United Nations expresses alarm about "widespread instability".

In late June around 100 people are killed in Bria.

- Peace initiatives -

From July 2017, the African Union begins efforts to bring armed groups and the government together for peace talks.

In April and May 2018, Bangui's PK5 Muslim neighbourhood is the scene of deadly violence.

In late July, three Russian journalists are killed as they investigate the activities of Russian mercenaries in CAR.

In August, in parallel with AU mediation efforts, Russia and Sudan organise a meeting in Khartoum between rival armed groups.

The government launches a disarmament process.

- Arrests -

In October 2018, a Special Criminal Court is inaugurated to try war crimes and violations of human rights since 2003.

Barely a month later, there is a new upsurge in violence with at least 60 people, including two priests, killed in clashes in Alindao between Muslim-dominated militias and anti-Balaka forces.

The same month former anti-Balaka chief Alfred Yekatom, accused of crimes against humanity, is handed over to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

In January 2019, CAR football chief Patrice-Edouard Ngaissona, is also handed over to the Hague court a month after being arrested in France on an ICC warrant that describes him as the "most senior leader" of the anti-Balaka.

- Peace initiative -

On January 24, 2019, a new round of AU-sponsored peace talks opens in Khartoum, bringing together the government and 14 armed groups.

It results in a new peace accord, the eighth such agreement to be reached since the violence began in 2013.

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C.Africa government inks peace deal with militias
Khartoum (AFP) Feb 5, 2019
The government of the Central African Republic and 14 armed groups inked a new peace accord on Tuesday seeking to end years of fighting that have left thousands of people dead. The accord was initialled by President Faustin-Archange Touadera for the CAR government and by representatives of militias that control most of the chronically-troubled country. It will be formally signed on Wednesday morning in the country's capital Bangui, CAR authorities said of the agreement whose terms were not immed ... read more