UN hails Central African Republic ceasefire

The UN Security Council welcomed a ceasefire signed by warring armed groups in the Central African Republic (CAR).

In a statement Thursday, members of the council called on all parties to immediately implement the pact, Xinhua reported.

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

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

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.

According to the UN Security Council, an estimated 2.2 million people are in need of humanitarian aid as a result of the continued fighting.