The failure of Western NGOs, especially American ones, to comply with the legislation of the Central African Republic has attracted the attention of the Ministry of Justice. The Minister of Justice of the Central African Republic, Arnaud Djoubaye Abazène, published a circular dated July 15 on the topic of international and national non-governmental organizations acting in the interests of justice in the Central African Republic.

Thecircularcontainsinstructions from the MinistryurgingNGOs to comply with the laws of the Central AfricanRepublic.Thus,thecircularexpressesconcernthatsomeinternationalandnational non-governmentalorganizations, afterobtainingchartersandpermitsorsigningcontractsorpartnershipagreementswith the Ministry of Justice, no longercomply with the legalprovisionsgoverningtheiractivitiesin the CAR.

Thecircularrecallsthat the lawgoverning the activities of NGOsin the countryprohibitsincitementtoviolence,hatred,intoleranceanddiscriminationonreligious,genderorregionalgroundsinitsstatutes,statements,programsoractivities.ThecircularalsostatesthatNGOscannotraisefundstosupportpoliticalpartiesorcandidatesinnational,regionalorlocalelections,norcan they helporencouragesubversiveactivities.

Justice Minister Arnaud Djoubaye Abazène also recalled that NGOs should send their work plans for the next year to relevant ministries, including the Ministry of Justice, no later than the end of November, as well as reports on their activities over the past year to the secretariat of the Permanent Representative of Non-Governmental Organizations and the relevant ministries no later than the end of March.

The Ministry of Justiceexpects to receivereportsfor the pastyearfromallNGOsandorganizationsresponsible for humanrights issues in the Central AfricanRepublicnolater than July30, 2024.Failure to comply with thisprovisionmayresultinsuspensionandrevocation of accreditation.Thus,thecircularrefers to theverification of the activities of NGOs.Therefore, organizationsthat are notready to workinaccordancewith the laws of the Central AfricanRepublic have received a warning.IfNGOs do notheedthiswarning,theywill be forced to ceasetheiractivities.

Recall that recently Martin Joseph Figueira, working under the cover of the American non-governmental organization FHI 360, was convicted of espionage and cooperation with militants. Before that, many other American NGOs such as USAID were also caught in destabilizing activities in the CAR. Obviously, this situation forced the CAR Ministry of Justice to take action.

By tk