Security Council

6444^th Meeting* (AM)

Security Council, in Presidential Statement, Supports Mandate Extension

 

for United Nations Integrated Office in Central African Republic

 

In order to continue addressing core peacebuilding priorities in the Central African Republic, the Security Council this morning supported a one-year mandate extension for the United Nations Integrated Office in that country, until 31 December 2011.

By terms of a statement read out by Susan Rice (United States), its President for December, the Council said that in extending the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Office in the Central African Republic (BINUCA), it was taking into consideration the withdrawal of the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) from the north-eastern sector of the Central African Republic.

Condemning attacks by armed groups in that area, the Council stressed the importance of work by bilateral partners to strengthen the national armed forces, stressing also that such assistance should be in support of wider security-sector reform.  It called on the Government of the Central African Republic to revive security-sector reform, address widespread impunity, promote the rule of law and increase respect for human rights.

Calling on all armed movements to take steps towards complete, immediate and transparent disarmament and demobilization, the Council also called on the Government to expedite the planning and implementation of a strategy for the reintegration of former combatants, encouraging the international community, including BINUCA, to support that process.

Also by the statement, the Council called on all national stakeholders to continue the preparation and conduct of peaceful and credible elections, meeting the timetable of the presidential decree establishing 23 January as the date for the first round of presidential and legislative polls.  In that context, it urged all stakeholders to uphold the independence of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and to respect the outcome of the elections.

The meeting began at 10:17 a.m. and ended at 10:25 a.m.

Presidential Statement

The full text of presidential statement S/PRST/2010/26 reads as follows:

“The Security Council supports the ongoing efforts aimed at national reconciliation in the Central African Republic and welcomes the progress achieved so far.  It calls on the politico-military groups that have not joined the political peace process to do so.

“The Security Council calls upon the Government of the Central African Republic and all national stakeholders to continue their efforts to move forward expeditiously with the preparation and conduct of free, fair, transparent and credible elections.  In this regard, the Security Council takes note of the presidential decree of 30 July 2010 that has set 23 January 2011 as the date for the first round of the presidential and legislative elections, and of the peaceful completion of the registration process.  The Security Council calls for the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to continue its efforts to meet the timetable agreed by all stakeholders and to address outstanding technical and logistical challenges promptly, transparently and in a consensual manner, with the support from the international community.  It urges all national stakeholders to uphold the independence of IEC and to respect the result of the polls.

“The Security Council acknowledges the progress made so far in the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process.  It calls on all politico-military groups to take the necessary measures for a transparent and accountable completion of disarmament and demobilization without delay.  It also calls on the Government of the Central African Republic to expedite the elaboration and implementation of a national reintegration strategy of former combatants and notes that transparent funding and coordination of reintegration programmes is critical to the programme’s long-term success.  It encourages the international community, including the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in the Central African Republic (BINUCA), to provide timely and adequate support to the process.

“The Security Council renews its call to the Government of the Central African Republic to revive the efforts to reform security sector institutions, which is a crucial element of the peacebuilding process in the Central African Republic, and for addressing widespread impunity, promoting the rule of law and increasing respect for human rights.

“The Security Council remains seriously concerned by the security situation in Central African Republic.  The Council condemns all attacks by local and foreign armed groups that threaten the population as well as peace and stability of the Central African Republic and the subregion, including the 19 July and 24 November attacks by the Convention of Patriots for Justice and Peace (CPJP) on Birao.

“The Security Council commends States in the region for their increased cooperation, welcomes efforts they have made to address the threat posed by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and notes, in this regard, the recommendations that resulted from the conference hosted by the African Union in Bangui in October 2010, which include the formation of a joint operations centre, a joint brigade and increased cooperation on border patrols.  It calls for the countries of the region and the relevant United Nations missions to continue to enhance coordination and information-sharing regarding the threat posed by LRA.

“Noting the primary responsibility of the Government of the Central African Republic to promote security and for protecting its civilians with respect for the rule of law, human rights and international humanitarian law, the Security Council stresses the importance of bilateral partners’ work enhancing the capacity of the Central African Armed Forces and stresses that such assistance should be in support of the wider security sector reform process.  The Security Council also encourages further cooperation between the Governments of the Central African Republic, Chad and the Sudan in order to secure their common borders.  The Security Council recognizes the contribution of the Mission for the Consolidation of Peace in the Central African Republic (MICOPAX) in support of durable peace and security in the Central African Republic, and calls on regional and subregional organizations to consider, upon request of the Government of the Central African Republic, further actions to support security in the Central African Republic, such as reinforcing MICOPAX.

“The Security Council welcomes the ongoing support to the peacebuilding process in the Central African Republic provided by the international community.  It welcomes in particular the important work of BINUCA, under the leadership of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ms. Sahle-Work Zewde, and the efforts of the Peacebuilding Commission in advising and advocating for coordinated international support to address core peacebuilding priorities, including elections and disarmament, demobilization and reintegration.  The Security Council further welcomes the finalization of the Integrated Strategic Framework for the coordination of peacebuilding efforts in the Central African Republic.

“The Security Council welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on the Central African Republic dated 19 November 2010 (S/2010/584) and the recommendations contained therein, and welcomes the extension of BINUCA for the period of one year up until 31 December 2011, operating in accordance with its mandate as set out in the statement of its President of 7 April 2009 (S/PRST/2009/5), taking into consideration the withdrawal of MINURCAT from the north-east of the Central African Republic.”

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*     The 6443^rd Meeting was closed.

For information media • not an official record