Central African Republic’s prime minister urged political and civil society groups to attend a conference next week that seeks to end months of sectarian violence.

The national conference “is extremely important for the return of peace to our country,” Prime Minister Andre Nzapayeke told state-owned Radio Centrafrique yesterday. The talks, organized by regional leaders, will be held in Brazzaville, the capital of neighboring Republic of Congo, and begin on July 21.

The Central African Republic has been gripped by conflict since Muslim rebels known as Seleka brought Michel Djotodia to power until he resigned in January. The country is now divided between mainly Christian militia in the west and mainly Muslim rebels controlling the east, while the national army no longer exists, a United Nations experts panel said in a report published July 11.

“The country is de facto partitioned into two,” the report said. “The political elite and armed groups, meanwhile, have illegally monopolized control of the country’s mineral resources, particularly diamonds and gold.”

There has been no announcement of which groups will attend next week’s conference. Gervais Lakosso, head of a coalition of civil society groups, said by phone he will boycott the talks as they would further “destabilize” the country.

The UN panel said it had documented the deaths of 2,424 people between December and April. The death toll is probably much higher because most incidents remain unreported, it said.