In a meeting yesterday with U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), Central African Republic (CAR) President Faustin-Archange Touadéra thanked him for the critical U.S. support for his country thus far. Touadéra also asked Smith, Chairman of the House panel on Africa, for sustained U.S. support as his country seeks to restore democracy in the wake of still-smoldering civil conflict.

     CAR has endured two destructive conflicts since 2004, including an ongoing civil war that began in 2012. One of the key issues facing the CAR government is the reintegration of ex-combatants, who were often recruited as children and face a very high rate of unemployment once they lay down their arms. With no other options available they often return to combat or banditry as a way to feed their families.

     “Disarmament of combatants is a critical element in restoring lasting order, but there must be an effort to provide education, training and support for ex-combatants so they can reintegrate into society,” said Smith. “Communities also will need support to create jobs for those no longer involved in combat. I suggested to President Touadéra that he consider a program like our GI Bill, which helped thousands of returning veterans and was instrumental in creating an expanded middle class here in the United States after World War II, and focus on microfinance, as it is a proven way for impoverished people to bootstrap themselves to a better life via entrepreneurship, at minimal investment.”

     President Touadéra, who campaigned as a peacemaker and was sworn in earlier this year after winning the second round of the October 2015 election, asked for international support, especially from the United States, for securing a lasting peace so that police and military forces could provide for basic security. Currently, there remain areas of the country where rebel activity prevents the provision of state services to citizens, such as electricity, roads and water. The CAR leader said stability will allow for government reforms to be made and corruption to be eliminated.

     Smith, who has chaired three hearings on the Central African Republic with the most recent being titled “Ridding Central Africa of Joseph Kony: Continuing U.S. Support,” has spoken with officials at the U.S. Agency for International Development and received assurances of cooperation with the CAR government on issues of mutual concern.

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