Panel of Experts Briefs Security Council Sanctions Committee on Central African Republic on Final Report Submitted Pursuant to Paragraph 23(c) of Resolution 2262 (2016)
On 2 December 2016, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2127 (2013) concerning the Central African Republic held informal consultations to consider the final report of the Panel of Experts, submitted in pursuance of paragraph 23(c) of resolution 2262 (2016).
The Panel of Experts provided an overview of the key findings and recommendations detailed in the report, as well as a number of developments following the Panel’s submission of the report to the Committee on 4 November. The Panel noted that while progress was being made on disarmament, demobilization, repatriation and reintegration and security sector reform and donors had committed funds during the recent Brussels conference, the renewed violence in the central and northern parts of the country was of a scale and intensity that had last been seen in early 2014. The Panel highlighted that recent acts of violence had appeared to be increasingly interconnected. Anti-balaka groups had attacked ex-Séléka elements from Bangui and had moved out of the capital and central parts of the country to Kaga Bandoro (in the north) and Bambari (in the east) to confront ex-Séléka, which had triggered violence against civilians by the ex-Séléka armed groups.
The Panel noted that inter-Séléka rivalries had further spiraled out of control in Bria and its surroundings that ended a period of relative calm in eastern Central African Republic. The Panel further underlined that the situation had calmed in Bangui after main belligerents from the PK5 neighbourhood had either fled the capital or had been killed in internal power struggles among the militias. However, the Panel stated that the risk of violent protest directed against the Government and United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) in the capital remained high.
The Panel also highlighted the continued prevalence of arms-smuggling focusing on two arms-trafficking routes through Bema, south-east of Bangassou bordering the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and in the north, where arms trafficking runs through Am Dafok and Tissi, a town between the Central African Republic and Chad.
Members of the Committee took note of the Panel’s presentation and of the final report and noted the importance of continuing to work to ensure peace, security and inclusive political process in the Central African Republic. They agreed to the proposed actions in connection with the majority of the Panel’s recommendations.