RPT: PREVIEW - Central African Republic Peace Talks Begin Thursday

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th January, 2019) A new round of peace talks between the Central African Republic (CAR)'s government and militant leaders begin on Thursday in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum.

The landlocked country has been suffering from a drawn-out conflict since a coup in 2013. Much of the fighting in recent years has been between Muslim-majority Seleka and Christian Anti-Balaka militias.

A Sudanese diplomatic source told Sputnik that the talks could last for over a week, with mediation from Commissioner for Peace and Security Smail Chergui of the African Union, which has championed the peace effort.

Other regional stakeholders who will take part in the negotiations are Chad, Congo and Gabon, the source with the Sudanese embassy in Moscow said.

CAR President Faustin-Archange Touadera is expected to come, the source added. The government has made no mentioning of the president in the list of participants obtained by Sputnik.

The car government delegation left the national capital of Bangui on Tuesday. It is led by Firmin Ngrebada, minister of state and chief of staff to the president.

The delegation also includes Defense Minister Marie Noelle Koyara, Foreign Minister Sylvie Baipo-Temon, Justice Minister Flavien Mbara, and Reconciliation Minister Virginie Baikouva.

Parties from all sides of the political spectrum - the majority, centrists and the opposition - will also be present, alongside National Assembly Deputy Speaker Jean Symphorien Mapenzi.

A large group of experts and civil society representatives is likewise attending, including members of the National Mediation Council, religious leaders, human rights advocates, representatives of women groups and victims of war.

The government stressed it had a "firm intention to reach compromise with armed groups in strict accordance with the constitution, national unity, territorial integrity."

CAR Communications Minister Maxime Kazagui said to Sputnik that the nation's government, political parties and civil society were united in their desire to agree a ceasefire and a peace deal. He said he hoped that all stakeholders would negotiate in good faith.