ICRC and Economic Community of Central African States sign cooperation agreement
15-10-2010 News Release
Yaoundé (ICRC) – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) have just concluded a cooperation agreement that will contribute to the strengthening of relations between the two organizations and to an improvement in the coordination of their activities.
The agreement was signed today in Libreville, Gabon, by General Louis Sylvain-Goma, the secretary-general of the ECCAS, and Patrick L'Hôte, the ICRC's head of operations for Central and Southern Africa.
The two organizations have agreed to hold regular consultations on issues of common concern, such as the protection of refugees, internally displaced people and other civilians affected by armed conflict or other violence, post-conflict reconstruction, and arms-related problems – landmines and the proliferation of small arms in particular – that are specific to Africa.
In addition, with ICRC support, the ECCAS will promote international humanitarian law and encourage its member States to fully comply with their treaty obligations.
The ICRC works in the ECCAS member States (Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe) in cooperation with the countries' Red Cross societies to protect and assist people adversely affected by armed conflict and other violence. The ICRC devotes more than a third of its annual budget to its activities in Africa. Its operations in Chad and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are among its largest in terms of resources committed.
For further information, please contact:
Vincent Pouget, ICRC Yaoundé, tel: +237 99 41 59 45 or +237 99 41 65 79