REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, NEW YORK -- The UN Security Council Thursday welcomed a ceasefire agreement signed by warring parties in the Central African Republic (CAR), highlighting the need to follow it up with national reconciliation and reconstruction.

In a statement, members of the Council called on all parties to immediately and fully implement the pact.

"The members of the Security Council underlined that this agreement is a first step in a wider political process in the Central African Republic of ensuring durable peace, respect for human rights, protection of civilians and the rule of law," said the statement.

Representatives of the ex-Seleka and anti-Balaka armed groups, as well as those from CAR's National Transitional Council, signed a truce deal on Wednesday in Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of Congo, to stop the violence in the country.

The Council members "stressed the need to address the underlying causes of the conflict through an inclusive and comprehensive political dialogue and national reconciliation process, efforts to fight impunity, formulation of a disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and repatriation (DDRR) strategy, including children formerly associated with armed forces and groups, and the rebuilding of effective state institutions," said the statement.

They underlined the paramount importance of preserving the unity and territorial integrity of the CAR.

The 15-member council reiterated its call to the transitional authorities to accelerate "all necessary preparations" in order to hold free, fair, transparent and inclusive presidential and legislative elections, with the full and effective participation of women at all levels and at an early stage as well as the participation of CAR internally displaced persons and refugees.

CAR has been embroiled in fighting fuelled by inter-communal retaliatory attacks between anti-Balaka and ex-Seleka rebels, after the latter were ousted from power in January 2014. An estimated 2.2 million people are in need of humanitarian aid as a result.

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