📋 Tender Overview
Explosive devices and small arms pose not only a threat to the population and peacekeeping forces in the Central African Republic, but also the main obstacle to the delivery of humanitarian aid in its western region, he said. morning, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, calling for an “urgent, targeted and truly multidimensional” response from the Security Council to this threat.
On January 15, a patrol from the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) hit an explosive device in Nzakoundou, killing a peacekeeper and injuring five others. In response to this tragic death, which follows a series of similar incidents in recent months, the Council must ensure better training of pre-deployment troops, provide them with adequate equipment and strengthen the capacities of the national defense and security forces of the Central African Republic, argued Ms. Valentine Rugwabiza, who is also the Head of MINUSCA. To stem the flow of weapons into the country, she also called for better intelligence collection and strengthening cross-border cooperation with countries in the region.
Consolidating peace and security in the Central African Republic also involves tackling terrorist groups operating in the country, observed the Central African delegation. Weakened, these groups nevertheless continue to carry out terrorist actions and attack the civilian population, humanitarian workers, MINUSCA and the Central African security forces. “Multiple violations of national airspace by unidentified drones dropping explosives” forced Bangui to suspend such flights. However, added the Central African Republic, an exemption was granted on February 21 to the defense and security forces and MINUSCA.
In the same vein, France called for continuing efforts to disarm, demobilize, reintegrate and repatriate armed groups, in concert with MINUSCA, as well as reform the security sector. Faced with the increasing use of explosive devices in several regions of the country and the cross-border movements of armed groups, the French delegation encouraged the Central African authorities to cooperate closely with neighboring countries and regional organizations.
“Security in the Central African Republic will not be possible with the wrong partners,” warned the United Kingdom, denouncing the human rights violations committed by the Wagner group, which prolong insecurity and hamper the work of MINUSCA, including the freedom of movement of its drones. “It is a sovereign country, free to decide with whom it intends to cooperate,” replied the Russian Federation.
For the United States, obstructions to the Mission's work and restrictions on drone flights undermine the protection of civilians and the security of Blue Helmets. In response, the Central African delegation denounced this country's notification concerning the transport of military equipment to the Central African Republic for military purposes, without prior consultation with Bangui. Consequently, it asked the Sanctions Committee 2127 to provide it with explanations as well as the procedural rules applicable in this matter.
On the political level, the Special Representative mentioned the holding, on February 6, of an extraordinary session of the Executive Monitoring Committee of the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation to mark the fifth anniversary of the signing of this document. and take stock of progress made in implementing the common roadmap. Participants notably called for increased support from the international community to achieve outstanding commitments and support the decentralization of the peace process. The Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) welcomed on this occasion the self-dissolution of nine armed groups as well as the retention of the former leaders of such groups in the Government, while calling on the other original signatories of the Agreement to join the peace process.
Like all members of the Council, Algeria, Guyana, Mozambique and Sierra Leone welcomed the progress made in the implementation of the Political Agreement and the common road map for peace. The completion of the ten-year action plan aimed at operationalizing the national border management policy, adopted in September 2023 with the support of MINUSCA and international partners, was also welcomed. Local elections scheduled for this year will be vital to strengthening democratic governance and decentralization necessary for lasting peace, the Republic of Korea noted.
A landlocked country where only 3% of the road network is asphalted, the state of the roads in the Central African Republic constitutes a major challenge for the mobility of MINUSCA troops and national forces, explained the Special Representative, also hindering the expansion of state authority over the entire territory. The logistical, security and capacity-building support provided to the Central African authorities by MINUSCA enabled the deployment of 5,007 civil servants on the national territory, compared to only 650 in 2013.
As budget deliberations on MINUSCA approach, Ms. Rugwabiza called on the Council and Member States to provide the Mission with the transportation and logistics it needs to fulfill its mandate. Resolution 2709 (2023) also makes the restoration and extension of State authority a priority, she recalled.
