News from Berlin

German Financial Aid to Central African Republic: Civilian Support for Long-term Development Cooperation

March 25th, 2014
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News from Berlin - Recently, the German Development Minister, Gerd Müller asserted that Germany will pay a ten million euro development assistance to the Central African Republic.

The Central African Republic, one of the poorest countries of the world, has been torn through civil war. One of the main drivers of the violence has been friction between Muslim and Christian communities which has continuously been on the rise. The number of fatalities is unknown but according to the United Nations around 55% of the population has fled the country. Currently, 2,000 French soldiers, as well as 5,500 African soldiers, are in CAR in order to put an end to this civil war. The German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) has also supplied medical aircraft.

However, for German Development Minister Gerd Müller, this is more than a military engagement. He states that it is civilian support that CAR needs. Therefore, the German financial support would be partly used to contribute in reinforcing security in the country, as well as to provide food, health and water.

This financial support must also be the start for medium/long term development cooperation with the Central African Republic. This way, there could be an investment in education, culture and agriculture in order to promote peace and security in the country.

News from Berlin – Berlin Global.