Security Council Press Statement on Central African Republic

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Román Oyarzun Marchesi (Spain):

The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the attack against a convoy of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) travelling from Damara to Ngerengou (Ombella-Mpoko prefecture) during which one peacekeeper from Burundi was killed and another was injured.

The members of the Security Council expressed their deepest condolences and sympathy to the families of the peacekeepers killed and injured and to the Government of Burundi, as well as to the Transitional Authorities and the people of the Central African Republic, and to MINUSCA.  They wished a speedy recovery to the peacekeeper injured.

The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms all attacks and provocations against MINUSCA by armed groups.  They underlined that attacks targeting peacekeepers may constitute a war crime and reminded all parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law.

They called on the Central African Republic authorities to swiftly investigate, with the assistance of MINUSCA, this attack and bring the perpetrators to justice.  They stressed that those responsible for the attack shall be held accountable.

The members of the Security Council reiterated their full support for MINUSCA to assist, as mandated by the Security Council in resolution 2217 (2015), the Transitional Authorities, which bear the primary responsibility to protect the population, and the people of the Central African Republic in their efforts to bring lasting peace and stability to their country.