Briefing by UNMAS to Security Council Sanctions Committee Concerning Central African Republic

During its informal consultations on 9 February 2015, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2127 (2013) concerning the Central African Republic (the Committee) was briefed by a representative of the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) regarding efforts to assist the CAR authorities in the management and storage of arms and ammunition. 

In accordance with paragraph 57 (a) of resolution 2127 (2013), by which the Security Council called on the Committee to monitor the implementation of the arms embargo with a view to strengthening, facilitating and improving implementation, the Committee organized the briefing with a view to deepening its understanding of the number of weapons and ammunition in the CAR that have been seized, collected or destroyed.

By paragraph 3 of resolution 2196 (2015), the Council reiterated its call upon the transitional authorities, with the assistance of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) and international partners, to address the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons in the CAR, and to ensure the safe and effective management, storage, and security of their stockpiles of small arms and light weapons and the collection and/or destruction of surplus, seized, unmarked, or illicitly held weapons and ammunition.

During the consultations, Committee members expressed appreciation for the work of UNMAS and the information provided during the briefing, including UNMAS’ assessment of the status of weapons and ammunition in Bangui as well as its plans to conduct further assessments outside the capital in 2015.