Security Council Sanctions Committee on Central African Republic Meets with Panel of Experts, Hears Weapon-Management Briefing by Mine Action Service
On 12 May, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2127 (2013) concerning the Central African Republic held informal consultations in connection with the progress update of the Panel of Experts and a briefing by the United Nations Mine Action Service in assisting the Central African Republic authorities in the management of weapons and ammunition.
On the progress update, the Coordinator of the Panel provided an overview of the update, which had been transmitted to the Committee on 3 May and emanated from the Panel’s visit to the Central African Republic in April. He stressed that the fighting between the coalition of ex-Séléka, led by the Front Populaire pour la Renaissance en Centrafrique (FPRC), and anti-balaka factions against the Union pour la Paix en Centrafrique (UPC), was gradually moving to south-east Central African Republic. The coalition had made some major advancements in reunifying ex-Séléka under one chain of command. The Panel provided further information on various individuals who were bringing weapons into the Central African Republic, hiring recruits and financing the conflict in violation of the sanctions regime. Armed groups continued to procure arms and ammunition from neighbouring States, and that the continued fighting had resulted in a severe impact on civilians. Finally, the Panel stressed the need for the coordination of all mediation initiatives and the need for close cooperation with the United Nations in this regard.
In his briefing, the representative of the United Nations Mine Action Service highlighted, inter alia, the Service’s work in assisting the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) in the implementation of sanctions including the arms embargo pursuant to paragraph 4 of resolution 2339 (2017). The United Nations Mine Action Service had provided technical expertise to establish a national small arms and light weapons commission under the Presidency of the Central African Republic, and in cooperation with the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), was assisting the Central African Republic authorities in producing a Central African Republic small arms and light weapons strategy. He emphasized that the United Nations Mine Action Service was continuing to train and provide refresher training to the Central African Republic security forces to safely and securely manage weapons and ammunition. It also continued to improve weapons and ammunition storage facilities and construct permanent armouries in larger urban areas to ensure effective management of weapons and ammunition.
Members of the Committee expressed appreciation for the work of the Panel of Experts and welcomed the progress update. Delegations also welcomed the valuable assistance of the United Nations Mine Action Service to the Central African Republic authorities and highlighted the importance of effective and secure weapons stockpile management in the Central African Republic, as well as the need to combat illicit arms flows from neighbouring States.