Condemning Rise of Violence by Armed Groups in Central African Republic, Security Council Presidential Statement Urges National Reconciliation
The Security Council, strongly condemning the rise of incitement to ethnic and religious hatred and violence in the Central African Republic — as well as manipulated hostility towards the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) and other international actors — today adopted a presidential statement urging armed groups to cease all forms of violence, lay down their arms and engage constructively in the country’s evolving peace process.
In presidential statement S/PRST/2018/14 — read out by Olof Skoog (Sweden), Council President for July — the 15-member organ expresses its deep concern about persistent violence perpetrated by armed groups in the Central African Republic against civilians, United Nations peacekeepers and humanitarian workers, as well as other violations of international humanitarian law. It also recalls that acts of incitement to violence, especially those based on ethnicity or religion — as well as engaging in or providing support for acts that undermine the country’s security and stability — constitute a basis for sanctions designations pursuant to resolution 2399 (2018).
Through the text, the Council reiterates its support to Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadéra in his efforts to promote lasting peace and stability in the country. It also calls on Government authorities to advance dialogue with the country’s armed groups and promote national reconciliation, the extension of State authority, the reform of the security sector and the fight against impunity as their highest priorities.
Reaffirming its support to the African Initiative for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic and its related road map — which both constitute the main framework for a political solution in the country — the Council further welcomes the first meeting of the International Support Group to the Central African Republic, co-chaired by the African Union, Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and the United Nations, that took place in Bangui on 11 April.
Paying tribute to the bravery of United Nations peacekeepers who have sacrificed their lives, the Council welcomes the extradition by the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the Central African Republic of anti-Balaka commander Wekanam Crépin, as well as associated people suspected of involvement in an attack that led to the death of five peacekeepers and in attacks against civilians. It also welcomes the efforts undertaken to improve the safety and security of United Nations personnel.
By other terms of the presidential statement, the Council notes measures taken by MINUSCA and troop- and police-contributing countries to combat sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeepers, nevertheless expressing grave concern over numerous allegations of such abuses. It expresses its deep concern over the Central African Republic’s humanitarian situation, including the alarming situation of refugees and internally displaced persons, where nearly half of the population requires assistance. In that vein, the Council also reiterates its demand that all parties allow and facilitate full, safe, immediate and unhindered access for the timely delivery of humanitarian assistance to populations in need.
The meeting began at 10:07 a.m. and ended at 10:20 a.m.
Presidential Statement
The full text of presidential statement S/PRST/2018/14 reads as follows:
“The Security Council expresses its deep concern regarding persistent violence perpetrated by armed groups, in Bangui and in the rest of the country, against civilians, United Nations peacekeepers and humanitarian workers, as well as violations of international humanitarian law, abuses and violations of human rights, including those committed against children and those involving sexual and gender-based violence in conflict, resulting in an unacceptable number of deaths, injury and displacement. The Security Council also strongly condemns the rise of incitement to ethnic and religious hatred and violence that threaten the peace and stability of the Central African Republic, as well as manipulated hostility towards the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) and other international actors.
“The Security Council urges armed groups, in Bangui and in the rest of the country, to cease all forms of violence, destabilizing activities and restrictions on freedom of movement of people, lay down their arms, immediately and unconditionally, and engage constructively in the peace process. The Security Council reiterates the urgent and imperative need to hold accountable those responsible for violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of human rights. The Security Council also recalls that committing acts of incitement to violence, in particular on an ethnic or religious basis, and then engaging in or providing support for acts that undermine the peace, stability or security of the Central African Republic is a basis for sanctions designations pursuant to resolution 2399 (2018).
“The Security Council reiterates its support to President Faustin-Archange Touadera in his efforts to promote lasting peace and stability in the Central African Republic and calls on Central African Republic authorities to take all the necessary steps, without delay, to advance the dialogue with armed groups and promote national reconciliation, the extension of State authority, the reform of the security sector, and the fight against impunity, as the highest priorities. The Security Council further stresses the need for the definitive operationalization of the Special Criminal Court and the establishment of the Truth, Justice, Reparations and Reconciliation Commission, as well as bolstering the other national accountability mechanisms. The Security Council calls on Central African Republic authorities to implement the reform of the security sector in order to put in place multi-ethnic, professional, representative and well-equipped national defence and internal security forces, the disarmament, demobilization and repatriation of members of armed groups, as well as the acceleration of the implementation of the National Strategy for Recovery and Peace Consolidation.
“The Security Council reaffirms its support to the African Initiative for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic and its road map that was adopted in Libreville on 17 July 2017 which both constitute the main framework for a political solution in the Central African Republic, as agreed by Central African Republic authorities and under their leadership. The Security Council welcomes the conclusion of the second round of consultations by the Panel of Facilitators of the African Initiative and underscores the urgent need for further progress in an ambitious and inclusive dialogue between Central African Republic authorities and the armed groups, as well as all segments of society, promoting the full and effective participation of women, with continued support from MINUSCA and other partners, in order to reach a comprehensive political agreement without delay. The Security Council also encourages President Faustin-Archange Touadera to cement and broaden national ownership of the peace process and calls for an enhanced coordination of efforts to support the African Initiative.
“The Security Council emphasizes the importance of the role and of high‑level commitment of the African Union, Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), International Conference on the Great Lakes Region and neighboring countries for the promotion of lasting peace and stability in the Central African Republic and calls on them in this regard to step up their coordination and efforts for the next steps of the implementation of the Libreville road map.
“The Security Council welcomes the first meeting of the International Support Group to the Central African Republic, co-chaired by the African Union, ECCAS and the United Nations, that took place in Bangui on 11 April 2018 to promote coherent and sustained engagement for the ongoing stabilization and recovery efforts in the Central African Republic. The Security Council welcomes in this regard the call to reactivate joint bilateral commissions between Cameroon, Chad and Sudan with the Central African Republic and encourages the concerned countries to cooperate in order to address cross-border issues. The Security Council also welcomes the joint visit in Bangui of Under‑Secretary‑General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, and African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security, Smaïl Chergui, from 10 to 13 April 2018 and underlines the importance of the synergy between the two organizations to support the peace process in the Central African Republic.
“The Security Council renews its strong support to Special Representative Parfait Onanga-Anyanga and MINUSCA in the implementation of the mandate of the mission in support of Central African Republic authorities, in particular the protection of civilians, including through a proactive and robust posture, support to the peace process, and the creation of a secure environment for the delivery of humanitarian assistance in accordance with resolution 2387 (2017).
“The Security Council pays tribute to the bravery of United Nations peacekeepers who sacrificed their lives in the service of peace and welcomes in this regard the extradition by the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the Central African Republic of anti-Balaka commander Wekanam Crepin and associated people suspected of involvement in an attack that led to the death of five United Nations peacekeepers and in attacks against civilians. The Security Council welcomes the efforts undertaken to improve the safety and security of United Nations personnel. The Security Council also encourages the efforts undertaken to continue optimizing MINUSCA’s performance and looks forward to the reporting on troop- and police-contributing country performance. The Security Council also welcomes current efforts by the Secretariat to generate the additional authorized forces without delay to increase MINUSCA’s flexibility and mobility pursuant to operative paragraph 32 of resolution 2387 (2017).
“The Security Council notes the various measures taken by MINUSCA and troop- and police-contributing countries to combat sexual exploitation and abuse, which has led to a reduction in reported cases, but still expresses grave concern over numerous allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse reportedly committed by peacekeepers in the Central African Republic, as well as by non‑United Nations forces, and reiterates the need for troop- and police‑contributing countries, and as appropriate, MINUSCA, to promptly investigate those allegations in a credible and transparent manner and for those responsible for such criminal offences and misconduct to be held to account, and further stresses the need to prevent such sexual exploitation and abuse, and to improve how these allegations are addressed in line with resolution 2272 (2016).
“The Security Council welcomes the work carried out by the European Union Military Training Mission in the Central African Republic, as well as the support of other international and regional partners to the training and the enhancement of capacities of the national security and defence forces, and encourages effective coordination with MINUSCA and European Union Military Training Mission in the Central African Republic in this regard. The Security Council welcomes the ongoing good collaboration between Central African Republic authorities and international partners, including MINUSCA and the European Union Military Training Mission in the Central African Republic, for the progressive and sustainable redeployment of the Central African Republic armed forces and internal security forces trained by the European Union Military Training Mission in the Central African Republic and other international partners, within the broader framework of the extension of the State authority and security, and underlines the importance of capacity-building actions in support of internal security forces. The Security Council expresses in this regard its intent to review the recommendations that the Secretary-General transmitted to the Security Council as requested in operative paragraph 43(a)(iv) of resolution 2387 (2017).
“The Security Council expresses its deep concern for the humanitarian situation in the Central African Republic, including the alarming situation of refugees and internally displaced persons, where nearly half of the population is in need of humanitarian assistance. The Security Council reiterates its demand that all parties allow and facilitate the full, safe, immediate and unhindered access for the timely delivery of humanitarian assistance to populations in need. The Security Council encourages Member States to scale up funding to urgently respond to the humanitarian needs in the country identified in the 2018 Humanitarian Response Plan.
“The Security Council reaffirms its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Central African Republic, and recalls the importance of the principles of non-interference, good‑neighbourliness and regional cooperation.”
__________
* The 8308th Meeting was closed