Security Council

6696^th Meeting (AM)

Security Council Extends Mandate of Peacebuilding Office in Central African

 

Republic until 31 January 2013, Unanimously Adopting Resolution 2031 (2011)

The Security Council, concerned at the security vacuum in many parts of the Central African Republic and of reports of continued human rights violations there, today extended the mandate of the United Nations Peacebuilding Office in that country (BINUCA) until 31 January 2013.

Through the unanimous adoption of resolution 2031 (2011), the Council welcomed the finalization in July of a national strategy for the reintegration of former combatants, but noted with concern the absence of a credible and viable national strategy for security sector reform.  It called on the Government to re-engage in meaningful dialogue with BINUCA on that issue, taking into consideration the road map drafted by the Office to help revive that reform process.

The Council underscored the primary responsibility of the Government to promote security and protect its civilians and stressed the importance of bilateral partners’ work enhancing the capacity of the Central African Republic Armed Forces, emphasizing also that such assistance should be in support of the wider security reform process.

It also underscored the need for Chad, Sudan and the Central African Republic to implement the tripartite agreement signed on 23 May in Khartoum to enhance security in the common border areas through joint patrols, and also the need for Chad, the Central African Republic and Cameroon to pursue the Tripartite Initiative of December 2005 aimed at enhanced security at their borders.

In a related provision, the Council expressed deep concern at the extensive recruitment and the acquisition of weapons by the FPR (Front Populaire pour le Redressement), which threatened security in the country and region and violated the Final Communiqué of 13 January for the FPR to lay down its weapons and enter into peace discussions.  It also condemned the human rights violations by the FPR.

In that connection, the Council strongly condemned the continued violations of international humanitarian law and the abuses of human rights, the recruitment and use of children, killing and maiming, rape, sexual abuse and other sexual violence and abductions perpetrated by armed groups, specifically the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), and it called on BINUCA to investigate such violations.

(For a summary of Council briefings and the latest report of the Secretary-General on the situation, see Press Release SC/10488 of 14 December.)

The meeting began at 10:14 a.m. and ended at 10:15 a.m.

Resolution

The full text of resolution 2031 (2011) reads as follows:

“The Security Council,

“Recalling the statements of its President relating to the situation in the Central African Republic, in particular S/PRST/2010/29, S/PRST/2010/26, S/PRST/2009/35, S/PRST/2009/13, and S/PRST/2009/5,

“Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and unity of the Central African Republic, and recalling the importance of the principles of good-neighbourliness and regional cooperation,

“Welcoming ongoing efforts aimed at national reconciliation in the Central African Republic based on the Libreville Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2008, calling on its signatories to remain committed to the Agreement, and calling on all remaining armed groups to join the Agreement without delay,

“Acknowledging the important role played by the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in the Central African Republic (BINUCA) in support of mediation efforts undertaken by the Government of the Central African Republic and the National Mediator,

“Acknowledging the efforts made by the authorities of the Central African Republic, the Independent Electoral Commission and all Central African stakeholders in organizing peaceful presidential and legislative elections in 2011, and welcoming the establishment by the Government of the Central African Republic on 14 July 2011 of a Transitional Committee for Elections,

“Noting with concern that the near absence of a political opposition in the democratic institutions of the Central African Republic, which has added to the atmosphere of tension in the country, may constitute a considerable challenge to the process of national reconciliation and nation-building,

“Welcoming the intention of the Government of the Central African Republic to work towards an all-inclusive political approach for the reform of the electoral code and the establishment of a permanent electoral management body, and welcoming in this regard the organization by the Government, with the support of BINUCA, of a workshop on electoral reforms with all national stakeholders from 28 to 30 November 2011,

“Expressing deep concern at the precarious security situation in the Central African Republic due to the persisting presence and activities of national and foreign armed groups, including the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the Front Populaire pour le Redressement (FPR), that threaten peace and security in the Central African Republic and the subregion,

“Expressing concern at the lack of State authority outside the capital which has led to a serious security vacuum in many parts of the Central African Republic,

“Welcoming the ceasefire agreement signed between the Government and the Convention des Patriotes pour la Justice et la Paix (CPJP) and the ceasefire agreement signed between CPJP and the Union des Forces Démocratiques pour le Rassemblement (UFDR) under the auspices of the Government and the National Mediator and with the support of the United Nations, the African Union, the Mission for the Consolidation of Peace in the Central African Republic (MICOPAX) and the Government of Chad,

“Commending the African Union’s regional cooperation initiative for the elimination of the LRA, the appointment in November of a Special Envoy on the LRA, and its efforts to establish a Regional Intervention Force, a Joint Operations Centre and a Joint Coordination Mechanism,

“Recalling its resolutions 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009), 1889 (2009), and 1960 (2010), on women, peace and security and its resolutions 1612 (2005), 1882 (2009) and 1998 (2011) on children and armed conflict, recalling the conclusions of the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict, including inter alia the adoption of action plans to put an end to the recruitment and use of children by armed groups, including by self-defence militias, and also recalling resolutions 1265 (1999), 1296 (2000), 1325 (2000), 1612 (2005), 1674 (2006), 1738 (2006), 1820 (2008), 1882 (2009), 1888 (2009) and 1889 (2009) on the protection of civilians in armed conflicts,

“Expressing serious concern at reports of continued human rights violations, in particular cases of extrajudicial executions and restrictions on civil liberties,

“Noting the importance of the current dialogue between the Government of the Central African Republic and the International Monetary Fund on economic and financial developments in the Central African Republic,

“Welcoming the continued engagement of the Peacebuilding Commission in the Central African Republic and the recent visit of a delegation from the Commission’s country-specific configuration, and acknowledging the contribution of the Peacebuilding Fund to peacebuilding in the Central African Republic,

“Having considered the report (S/2011/739) of the Secretary-General on the situation in the Central African Republic and on the activities of BINUCA,

“1.   Decides to extend the mandate of BINUCA as recommended by the Secretary-General in his report (S/2011/739), until 31 January 2013;

“2.   Underlines the importance of a fully integrated office ensuring effective coordination of strategy and programmes among the United Nations agencies, funds and programmes in the Central African Republic, and emphasizes the role of the Secretary-General’s Special Representative in coordinating the country-team;

“3.   Looks forward to the Government’s progress on the creation of a permanent and independent electoral management body responsible for organizing future elections and on the revision of the electoral code, drawing from the lessons learned during the elections held earlier in the year, and calls upon the Government to organize municipal elections as soon as possible;

“4.   Encourages the Government to continue to engage in consultations with the opposition in a consensual and inclusive manner, including on the electoral reform;

“5.   Urges the Government of the Central African Republic to ensure that freedom of expression and assembly, including for the opposition parties, as well as the rule of law, which are essential for democracy, are fully respected; and urges the opposition parties and the Government to engage in a constructive dialogue to establish an environment allowing equal chances in the run-up to next electoral cycle;

“6.   Calls on the Government of the Central African Republic and all armed groups to remain committed to the national reconciliation process by fully observing the recommendations of the Inclusive Political dialogue that ended in 2008, and demands that all armed groups cooperate with the Government in the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process;

“7.   Welcomes the progress the Central African Republic has made in the disarmament and demobilization of former combatants in the north-west, following the launch of related activities by President Bozizé on 25 June 2011, and encourages the Government of the Central African Republic to pursue the disarmament and demobilization of former combatants, in particular members of UFDR and CPJP;

“8.   Welcomes the finalization on 8 July 2011 of the national strategy for the reintegration of former combatants drafted with the support of BINUCA, and urges the Government of the Central African Republic to redouble its efforts towards ensuring national ownership and full implementation of the strategy, in line with the wider security sector reform (SSR), and to define a timeline and draw-up specific reintegration programmes in order to be able to seek support from bilateral and multilateral partners;

“9.   Underscores the importance of SSR in the Central African Republic, notes with concern the absence of a credible and viable national SSR strategy and, in this regard, calls upon the Government of the Central African Republic to re-engage in a meaningful dialogue with BINUCA on this issue, in particular by taking into consideration the SSR road map drafted by BINUCA in response to the request by the Government for help to revive the SSR process;

“10.  Expresses concern at the security situation in the Central African Republic, which remains precarious, welcomes in this regard the continued efforts of MICOPAX in support of durable peace and security in the Central African Republic, and calls on countries in the subregion, and regional and subregional organizations to consider, upon request of the Central African Republic, the extension of the mandate of MICOPAX and other measures deemed appropriate to improve the security situation in the Central African Republic and the subregion;

“11.  Underscores the primary responsibility of the Government of the Central African Republic to promote security and protect its civilians with full respect for the rule of law, human rights, and international humanitarian law, stresses the importance of bilateral partners’ work enhancing the capacity of the Central African Republic Armed Forces and stresses that such assistance should be in support of the wider security reform process;

“12.  Underscores the need for Chad, Sudan and the Central African Republic to implement the tripartite agreement that was signed on 23 May 2011 in Khartoum to enhance security in their common border areas through joint patrols, and also the need for Chad, the Central African Republic and Cameroon to pursue the Tripartite Initiative, signed in December 2005, aimed at enhancing security at their borders;

“13.  Expresses deep concern at the extensive recruitment and the acquisition of weapons by the FPR, which threaten peace and security in the Central African Republic and the region and constitute violations of the commitments made by the FPR to lay down its weapons and enter into discussions towards peace in the Final Communiqué signed on 13 June 2011 by FPR leader Baba Laddé and the national mediators of Chad and the Central African Republic, condemns human rights violations perpetrated by the FPR, and encourages the Government of the Central African Republic to continue to liaise with the Government of Chad to reach a solution,

“14.  Strongly condemns the continued violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, including the recruitment and use of children, killing and maiming, rape, sexual slavery and other sexual violence and abductions perpetrated by armed groups, and specifically the LRA that threaten the population as well as peace and stability of the Central African Republic and the subregion, and calls on BINUCA to report on human rights violations perpetrated by armed groups particularly against children and women;

“15.  Welcomes the efforts of the Government of the Central African Republic to combat the LRA on its territory, further welcomes the African Union’s Regional Cooperation Initiative for the elimination of the LRA and the appointment of an African Union Special Envoy to coordinate this activity, and commends States in the region for their increased cooperation and efforts to address this threat;

“16.  Welcomes the designation by BINUCA of a focal point for LRA-related activities and the establishment of a working group that includes national and international stakeholders, including the African Union, the European Union, the United States of America, France and United Nations Office in Central Africa (UNOCA), and calls on BINUCA to reinforce information sharing on the LRA, in particular with the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA), the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU), the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South-Sudan (UNMISS) and the newly appointed African Union Special Envoy for the LRA, and to assist the Government of the Central African Republic in developing a strategy and supporting activities to encourage defections from the LRA, address the disarmament and demobilization of LRA escapees and defectors, and their resettlement or repatriation to their countries of origin, within existing resources;

“17.  Urges all parties concerned to provide for unhindered humanitarian access to populations in need;

“18.  Welcomes the recent signature by the Armée Populaire pour la Restauration de la Démocratie (APRD) and the CPJP of action plans to halt the recruitment and use of children, calls on all remaining parties listed in the Secretary-General’s report on children and armed conflict to follow suit as soon as possible, welcomes the work of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict in the Central African Republic and encourages the parties to continue engaging with her in this regard, calls on the international community to support child reintegration efforts, and urges the Government of the Central African Republic to continue to strengthen the protection of children, including through the implementation of pertinent legislation and in the conduct of military operations;

“19.  Expresses concern at persistent incidents of sexual and gender-based violence, and encourages BINUCA to continue engaging with the Government of the Central African Republic and other stakeholders, including the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, to address these issues;

“20.  Urges the Government of the Central African Republic to investigate reports of human rights violations in the country, to ensure that those who may be responsible for such violations are brought to justice, and to take the necessary steps to prevent further violations;

“21.  Encourages the Government of the Central African Republic to more meaningfully engage the Bretton Woods institutions, especially the International Monetary Fund, as their assistance is critical for the revitalization of the economy and for the development of the country;

“22.  Encourages the Government of the Central African Republic, the Peacebuilding Commission and its national and international partners to honour the commitments made under the Strategic Framework for Peacebuilding, requests the Peacebuilding Commission, with the support of BINUCA, to continue to assist the Government in laying the foundations for sustainable peace and development in the Central African Republic, including by ensuring that progress is made in the enforcement of rule of law, and that peacebuilding objectives are fully taken into account in the future strategic planning processes, and requests the Peacebuilding Commission to provide advice to the Security Council on these issues;

“23.  Commends the Government of the Central African Republic for launching its Second Generation Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP II), and calls on the Government to prioritize its objectives, including those on access to basic services and health care, food security, infrastructure and DDR as well as SSR, and to tackle the issue of corruption, and enhance fiscal transparency;

“24.  Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.”

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For information media • not an official record