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Nearly two months after holding its first round of presidential elections, the Central African Republic continues to suffer from vicious attacks by armed groups and asphyxiated supply routes, officials told the Security Council today in a video conference meeting, as delegations weighed whether to further reinforce the United Nations peacekeeping presence in the conflict-affected country.
Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, told the 15-member Council that the Central African Republic continues to suffer from violence despite the successful conclusion of the first round of the presidential election in December. Citing important progress in recent weeks in combating the armed coalition group known as Coalition des Patriotes pour le Changement, he said the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) is providing security to thousands of internally displaced persons who sought protection from the violence, while also supporting efforts to safeguard the democratic order.
Stressing that the armed group coalition continues to attempt to asphyxiate the country by cutting off its economic lifeline — namely, a critical road connecting Bangui to Cameroon — he said the humanitarian situation remains alarming. Some progress has been seen on that front in recent weeks, with the arrival of the first humanitarian aid convoys in Bangui since the violence started. However, still other convoys remain blocked at the border with Cameroon due to the insecurity. The Central African Republic has now become the most dangerous place for humanitarian work, with over 46 per cent of worldwide incidents registered by international non-governmental organizations reported in the country.
“Despite this very fragile situation, the country is on track to successfully conclude a democratic transfer of power within the constitutional timeline, which is a major achievement,” he said, turning to the political situation. It is now essential that democratic gains are preserved by completing the electoral process and advancing a peaceful resolution to the crisis. Two years since its signing, the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic remains the only viable framework for peace, he stressed, urging stakeholders to turn the corner and begin healing the national trauma through inclusive dialogue without delay. Such a process will also be crucial to create the conditions for a peaceful second and new rounds of legislative elections, scheduled for 14 March.
Meanwhile, he said, MINUSCA has continued to serve as the main guarantor of security for the civilian population. The Mission repeatedly repelled armed group attacks, including on the capital, and protected prisons in Bangui to prevent the escape of high-profile prisoners. Thanking the Council for its decision to grant an extension of the Mission’s temporary reinforcement — which proved vital — he said those reinforcements will continue to play a crucial role and help provide security for the March legislative elections. “However, the risk of mission overstretch extends beyond this period, as all of [its] capabilities remain fully engaged to address the volatile security situation and respond to increased security and protection needs,” he said, noting the Secretary-General’s recommendation that MINUSCA be further strengthened with an increase of 2,750 military and 940 police personnel.
“The request for additional military and police capabilities is not intended as a means for a military solution to the present challenges,” he said, noting that MINUSCA has factored in both its existing capacity and its ongoing efforts to optimize performance. As the tide turns on the security situation, efforts to advance peaceful dialogue must be coupled with renewed investment in the fight against impunity, including for grave crimes committed in the electoral period. He noted that the number of human rights violations have tripled since mid-December, with substantial increases in abductions and killing of civilians, attacks against humanitarian workers, destructions of homes, extrajudicial executions and conflict-related sexual violence. The electoral period also laid bare the important shared work that remains ahead in ensuring that national institutions can assume their sovereign responsibilities to keep the population safe from harm, he said.
Rita Laranjinha, Managing Director for Africa of the European External Action Service, agreed that the Central African Republic is facing a critical situation with significant political tensions and a new security crisis. Collective efforts must focus on drawing all parties together, she said, adding that restoring security is a particular priority in view of the remaining steps of the electoral process. Stressing that the holding of free, fair and transparent elections is of paramount importance, she said they must take place in the best possible conditions, paving the way for inclusivity and political stability over the next five years.
For its part, she said, MINSUCA must be able to mobilize all necessary means to fulfil its mandate. Welcoming the Secretary-General’s recommendation to reinforce the Mission with military and police resources, she strongly condemned destabilizing acts by signatories of the 2019 peace agreement and the rebel coalition supported by the former President. “Violence as a means to raise and solve grievances cannot be accepted,” she said, stressing that the fight against impunity, as well as respect for human rights and international humanitarian law, must be at heart of stabilization efforts.
Welcoming Central African President Faustin-Archange Touadéra’s commitment to hold a political dialogue with participation from the Government, the democratic opposition and civil society, she echoed calls to relaunch the country’s peace and reconciliation process. A political agreement is the only viable framework for lasting peace, she said, noting that two years after its signature, the peace agreement must also be revitalized, starting with an evaluation of its implementation. Reengagement by the Government and armed groups, and greater participation by civil society — especially women and youth — are essential for the peace agreement to be credible, and fighting impunity for serious crimes is the only way to restore trust among the population and to stop the spiral of violence.
Kessy Martine Ekomo-Soignet, Director of the youth-led peacebuilding organization URU, described the situation in the Central African Republic as complex, tense and difficult. “We live in fear” of losing our lives and loved ones because of armed violence, or of not having the economic means to survive, she said. Her message today, on behalf of the Central African people, is that “our hopes are stronger than our fears”. It is indeed possible to move beyond the instability, with the support of partners.
Emphasizing that Central Africans have always chosen peace and unity in the face of destabilization and division, she said they are ready to turn the page on these repeated crises. This point was repeatedly expressed during the 2015 Bangui Forum — it is a “cris de coeur” still heard six years later. Their trauma is real, hidden under a determination to live together, to transform their country and to rise as a united people. She denounced the nebulous Coalition des Patriotes pour le Changement coalition, which has worsened security and humanitarian conditions, and compromised the right to education for thousands. The curfew and state of emergency also have affected the country and its largely informal economy.
She drew attention to the spike in sexual and gender-based violence, pointing out that the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation is being compromised. Calling for efforts to revitalize the peace process, she said a 2020 analysis of the needs and aspirations of young people — who represent 70 per cent of the population — found that the free movement of goods and people is a top priority. Eighty-six per cent of young people want to remain in the country and succeed. The freedoms of expression and thought are at the heart of their work for peace, she stressed, adding that “my people want justice” for the countless lives wasted, for the girls and women who have been raped and for the property that has been destroyed.
As Council members took the floor, many paid tribute to United Nations peacekeepers who recently lost their lives in the Central African Republic and elsewhere, while strongly condemning the violence which has also forced more than 240,000 people to flee their homes since mid-December. Speakers voiced support for MINUSCA’s work, in particular in protecting civilians, and echoed the Secretary-General’s calls for troop reinforcements. However, some delegates called for a more careful consideration of that request, while others voiced concern that some troops may be failing to act in accordance with United Nations standards.
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