Two years since CAR's govt signs peace deal with rebels

Saturday marked two years since the Central African Republic's government signed a peace deal with rebel groups in an attempt to end years of fighting, but the country faces growing violence that threatens to null the agreement.

"In the current context of our country, this agreement remains and remains the only way forward," President Faustin-Archange Touadera said at a ceremony marking the anniversary of the deal.

"We cannot and must not turn back because of the criminal actions of some signatories of the peace agreement," he said.

Despite the violence, he said the agreement was not void and urged parties to stay faithful to it while assuring civilians that the army is doing what it can to reclaim rebel-held areas.

"It is certainly difficult to achieve the desired objectives immediately," the president said.

"But the pursuit of the peace agreement seems essential to me if we want one day to get the Central African people out of this infernal cycle of the military or political crisis which brings misfortune and shame to our nation."

The renewed violence occurred after the constitutional court rejected former president Francois Bozize's candidacy for December's presidential election.

A coalition of the six strongest militias backing Bozize seeks to overturn the election results.

Touadera won a second term with 53% of the vote.

Last month rebels attacked the outskirts of the capital, Bangui, killing at least two United Nations peacekeepers. It was the most serious threat to the capital since 2013 when the predominantly Muslim Seleka rebels seized power.

While the country had a few years of relative calm, intermittent fighting has continued since the peace deal with 14 rebel groups was signed. Eight still adhere to the agreement.

The U.N. has called on authorities to hold meaningful and inclusive talks with the political opposition and armed groups that have renounced the violence.

The mineral-rich nation faces an increasingly dire humanitarian crisis, with some 200,000 people fleeing their homes in less than two months, according to the U.N.