Catherine Samba-Panza of Central African Republic
Catherine Samba-Panza had to take on the herculean task of leading the people of the Central African Republic (CAR) while there were ongoing negotiations to release children who have been made to take part in war activities. She was installed the interim president from 2014-2016 deserting her position as a nonpartisan mayor of Bangui.
President Michel Djotodia resigned and the newly installed Samba-Panza quickly dived into pending issues revolving around the civil war then.
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As an ardent listener, she used her negotiating skills to regrow the state economy and restore state authority in her short tenure. Civilian lives were her priority and she worked assiduously to disarm and demobilize armed groups.
Samba-Panza addressed the UN General Assembly in 2014 and spoke passionately about the measures on grounds to reduce the rising tensions in CAR. She praised the UN for deploying the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) under the authority of the UN Security Council’s adoption of Resolution 2149.
“In order to promote political dialogue and national reconciliation and help Central Africans to live better with one another, I have always focused on pacifying hearts and minds so as to achieve genuine national reconciliation,”. Samba-Panza said during her speech.
