Security Council

6460^th Meeting (PM)

Security Council, in Statement, Calls on Government Support for Central African

Republic, Chad as United Nations Mission There Draws Down by Year’s End

 

Commending the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT), as its mandate expires this month, the Security Council this morning called on donors to assist the Governments of the two countries of the Mission’s former area of operation to fulfil their increased responsibility in protecting civilians there.

Through a statement read out by Susan Rice of the United States, which holds the December presidency of the body, the Council took note of the complete withdrawal of MINURCAT from the Central African Republic (CAR) on 15 November, as well as the start of the liquidation phase in Chad, to end on 30 April 2011.

Recalling the commitment made by the Government of Chad to assume full responsibility for the security of displaced persons, humanitarian workers and other civilians in eastern Chad, the Council welcomed its commitment to assure the future sustainability of the Détachement intégré de sécurité (DIS), the Chadian force that MINURCAT helped build for that purpose.

The Council called on Member States to ensure that the necessary donor funds were made available, welcoming the establishment of a mechanism for the mobilization and management of such funds by the Government in coordination with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Expressing its serious concern over the challenges faced by the country’s Armed Forces in the northeast, as represented by the recent attack on Birao, the Council stressed the importance of bilateral partners’ work in that country to strengthen those forces in support of wider security sector reform.

The Council also encouraged further cooperation between the Governments of the Central African Republic, Chad and the Sudan to secure their common borders, and called on all relevant regional and subregional organizations to consider, upon the request of the Government, further ways of supporting security in the Central African Republic, including the reinforcement of the regionally-sponsored MICOPAX (Mission for the Consolidation of Peace).

(For information about a briefing to the Council on 14 December by Youssef Mahmoud, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of MINURCAT, and a summary of the Secretary-General’s report S/2010/611, see Press Release SC/10116).

The meeting began at 12:08 p.m. and ended at 12:16 p.m.

Statement

Presidential Statement S/2010/PRST/29 reads as follows:

“The Security Council takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and in Chad (MINURCAT) dated 1 December 2010 (S/2010/611), the lessons-learned and the recommendations contained therein, and expresses its intention to take them into account in the framework of its ongoing work to enhance the overall effectiveness of United Nations peacekeeping.

“In the context of the expiration of the mandate of the Mission on 31 December 2010, the Security Council commends the contribution of MINURCAT for providing, without prejudice to the primary responsibility of the government of Chad, security for refugees, internally displaced persons and humanitarian actors in eastern Chad and for its efforts to enhance the capacity of the Chadian “Détachement intégré de sécurité” (DIS). The Council notes the importance of action by the Government of Chad, supported as appropriate by the UN Country team, on justice, including the prison sector, sexual and gender-based violence, child protection, human rights, local reconciliation and mine action, following MINURCAT’s withdrawal.

“The Security Council recalls the commitment of the Government of Chad, outlined in the letter sent to the President of the Security Council dated 7 September 2010 (S/2010/470), to assume full responsibility for the security and the protection of the civilian population in eastern Chad, including refugees, internally displaced persons, returnees and host communities, with a particular focus on women and children, United Nations and humanitarian personnel and assets, in accordance with its obligations under international humanitarian, human rights and refugee law.

“The Security Council encourages the finalization of the establishment of the “Coordination nationale pour le soutien aux humanitaires et au DIS” to allow efficient interaction of the Government of Chad with humanitarian partners and other key actors. It welcomes the establishment of the “Bureaux de sécurisation et des mouvements” (BSM) in eastern Chad for the local coordination with humanitarian actors on security issues, joint analysis and escorts.

“The Security Council acknowledges the critical role the DIS will have to perform in the foreseeable future for the protection of civilians. It takes note of the revised national plan for the sustainment of the DIS (S/2010/536). The Security Council welcomes the commitment of the Government of Chad to assure the future sustainability of the DIS and the funding it has pledged. It welcomes the work of UNDP and UNHCR with the relevant national Chadian authorities to establish a mechanism for the mobilisation and management of donor support for the DIS after 1 January 2011. It especially welcomes the establishment of a new “basket fund” in support of the DIS administered by UNDP. The Security Council calls upon Member States to ensure that the necessary donor funds are made available to meet the budgetary requirements of the DIS. The Council urges the Government of Chad to assume full responsibility for the sustainment of the DIS as soon as possible.

“The Security Council requests the Secretary General to report by the conclusion of the MINURCAT liquidation phase on 30 April 2011 on the progress made in eastern Chad on the protection of civilians, especially women and children, including (i) the status of refugees and internally displaced persons and durable solutions to their displacement, (ii) unimpeded, safe and timely humanitarian access, including the movement and security of humanitarian personnel and the delivery of humanitarian aid, (iii) on the measures taken to respond to violations of humanitarian, human rights and refugee law, and (iv) the overall security situation as it affects the humanitarian situation.

“The Security Council has taken note of the complete withdrawal of MINURCAT from the Central African Republic on 15 November 2010. It remains seriously concerned by the challenges facing the security forces of the Government of the Central African Republic in Birao and stresses the importance of bilateral partners’ work to enhance the capacity of the Central African Armed Forces in support of the wider security sector reform process. The Council also remains seriously concerned by the security situation in the Central African Republic. It condemns all attacks by local and foreign armed groups, including the LRA, that threaten the population as well as peace and stability of the Central African Republic and the sub-region. The Security Council 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 Central African Republic (MICOPAX) in support of durable peace and security in the Central African Republic and calls on regional and sub-regional 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 commends the Special Representative of the Secretary General, Mr. Youssef Mahmoud, for his leadership and MINURCAT personnel for their dedication, as well as the commitment of troop contributing countries to the Mission. It encourages the Government of Chad to continue to extend its full support for the orderly withdrawal from the country of all remaining MINURCAT staff and assets until the end of the liquidation phase.”

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For information media • not an official record