CAR: Central African crisis: renewed momentum for durable solutions to forced displacement

Country: Central African Republic Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees Bangui – Meeting in Bangui, ministers and heads of delegation from the Central African Republic, Cameroon, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Chad and Sudan reaffirmed their commitment to accelerate implementation of the Yaoundé Declaration and the Support Platform for Solutions for people forcibly displaced by the Central African crisis. At the extraordinary ministerial meeting of the Steering Committee of the Support Platform for Solutions for the Central African Republic (CAR Platform), participants welcomed progress since its launch in October 2023, particularly on voluntary returns, assistance to spontaneous returnees, sustainable reintegration, the identification of development hubs, progress towards inclusion and solutions for refugees in countries of asylum, and national and regional coordination. “Durable solutions are not limited to the return of populations. Returning home must also mean being able to live in safety, access essential services, exercise one’s rights, and have the means to rebuild one’s life and contribute to the development of one’s country… The voluntary, safe and dignified return of Central African refugees, as well as their sustainable reintegration, are essential pillars of the implementation of the Yaoundé Declaration,” said Felix Molua, Prime Minister of the Central African Republic. Since 2017, 75,031 Central African refugees have been assisted to voluntarily return, including 16,265 in 2024 and 21,455 in 2025. Several thousand others have returned spontaneously, according to local authorities. However, as of 31 March 2026, more than 1.16 million people remained forcibly displaced by the Central African crisis, including more than 650,000 refugees in countries of asylum and 427,479 internally displaced people in the Central African Republic. Renewed priorities to accelerate solutions In their final communiqué, ministers and heads of delegation recommended strengthening the CAR Platform’s governance structures and mobilizing additional financial and technical resources to support national action plans. They also called for the implementation of recommendations from the technical working groups, including the resumption of voluntary repatriation in 2026 and a provisional schedule for return convoys in 2027, aligned with reception capacities, reintegration programmes, health measures, and development initiatives in areas of return. Civil documentation, access to water, health care, education and economic opportunities were identified as investment priorities in development hubs to support reintegration, strengthen social cohesion and foster voluntary, safe and dignified returns. “Reintegration can only be sustainable if populations find, in areas of return, the conditions they need to rebuild their lives. This means investing in essential services, infrastructure and economic opportunities, for the benefit of returnees as well as the communities that host them,” said William Chemaly, UNHCR Representative in the Central African Republic. Participants nevertheless noted persistent challenges, including insecurity in some areas of return, socio-economic and infrastructure constraints, insufficient resources, growing reintegration needs and additional health measures linked to the Ebola virus. They invited technical and financial partners, international financial institutions, United Nations agencies, regional organizations, the private sector, civil society and new partners to strengthen support for the Yaoundé Declaration and the CAR Platform. “Durable solutions require structural investments that strengthen community resilience, stimulate local economic development and create opportunities for refugees, returnees, internally displaced people and host communities. The African Development Bank will remain engaged alongside Governments, UNHCR and partners,” said Mamadou Coulibaly, Resident Representative of the African Development Bank (AfDB) in the Central African Republic. Media contacts in Bangui: Gloria Ramazani, ramazang@unhcr.org, +236 74147892 Fatime Stella, fatime@unhcr.org, +236 74083734 About the CAR Platform The Support Platform for Solutions for the Central African Republic (CAR Platform) was officially launched in Bangui in October 2023, following the adoption of the Yaoundé Declaration in April 2022. It is a regional mechanism for dialogue, coordination and partnership mobilization aimed at promoting durable solutions for Central African refugees, internally displaced people, returnees and host communities affected by the Central African crisis. As of 31 March 2026, more than 1.16 million people remained forcibly displaced as a result of the Central African crisis, including more than 650,000 refugees in countries of asylum and 427,479 internally displaced people in the Central African Republic.
2026-10-02 01:21:39