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STORY: UN / CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
TRT: 03:09
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / FRENCH / NATS
DATELINE: 26 JUNE 2025, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
FILE - NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, exterior UN headquarters
26 JUNE 2025, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, Security Council
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations:
“Madame President, the human rights situation in the Central African Republic remains concerning, with persistent violations and abuses, including conflict-related sexual violence and grave violations of children's rights.”
4. Wide shot, Security Council
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations:
“Progress has also been made in advancing judicial accountability, notably by the Special Criminal Court (SCC), which is playing a significant role in the fight against impunity and transitional justice. On 19 June, the Court rendered its third verdict in a trial concerning clashes that occurred in March 2020 in the Ndélé region between two factions of the Front populaire pour la renaissance de la Centrafrique (FPRC). However, the SCC is now entering a critical phase that requires reinforced financial and human resources to sustain and expand its activities.”
6. Wide shot, Security Council
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations:
“The Central African Republic stands at a delicate juncture. The holding of local, legislative, and presidential elections presents a unique opportunity to strengthen democratic governance and advance national reconciliation. However, these are sensitive political processes, and the support of all partners of the Central African Republic, including this Council, remains essential.”
8. Wide shot, Security Council
9. SOUNDBITE (French) Marius Aristide Hoja Nzessioué, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Central African Republic:
“A political dialogue which is envisaged by the Central African authorities does not begin with external decree. This is a response to the formal request issued by the Republican opposition, specifically the members of the BRDC. In response to this request, the President of the Republic gave his agreement in principle, thereby demonstrating his willingness to participate in a political dialogue.”
10. Wide shot, Security Council
11. SOUNDBITE (French) Marius Aristide Hoja Nzessioué, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Central African Republic:
“Moreover, the Central African Republic reaffirms its support for the Special Criminal Court that is a concerted response to the serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. We recognize the role that this hybrid jurisdiction, supported by the UN, plays in fighting impunity and in restoring trust in the rule of law. The government remains resolved to cooperate with the SCC, this court, in order to guarantee its functional independence and encourage respect for its decisions throughout the country.”
12. Wide shot, Security Council
13. SOUNDBITE (French) Marius Aristide Hoja Nzessioué, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Central African Republic:
“Madam President, peace in CRA also depends on regional stability. The Sudanese conflict is a genuine threat. Armed groups are crossing our borders, recruiting young people, and compromising our sovereignty in clear violation of our territory integrity. As we have already said, we call upon the Security Council to support an inclusive political process in Sudan, supported by the African Union, IGAD, and international partners.”
14. Wide shot, end of 9946th Security Council meeting
The Central African Republic faces a “delicate juncture,” UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix told the Security Council, warning that upcoming elections present both an opportunity and a challenge for the country’s fragile peace process.
“The human rights situation in the Central African Republic remains concerning, with persistent violations and abuses, including conflict-related sexual violence and grave violations of children's rights,” Lacroix said today (26 Jun).
Despite the ongoing violence, Lacroix noted progress in accountability efforts. He highlighted the work of the Special Criminal Court (SCC), which recently delivered a verdict related to deadly clashes in Ndélé in 2020 between two factions of the Front populaire pour la renaissance de la Centrafrique (FPRC).
“Progress has also been made in advancing judicial accountability, notably by the Special Criminal Court, which is playing a significant role in the fight against impunity and transitional justice,” Lacroix said. But he warned the Court is entering “a critical phase that requires reinforced financial and human resources to sustain and expand its activities.”
Lacroix underscored that the upcoming local, legislative, and presidential elections are “a unique opportunity to strengthen democratic governance and advance national reconciliation,” but stressed that broad international support remains essential.
The Central African Republic’s representative, Marius Aristide Hoja Nzessioué, echoed that message, emphasizing the government’s commitment to political dialogue. “A political dialogue which is envisaged by the Central African authorities does not begin with external decree,” Nzessioué said.
Nzessioué also reaffirmed his country’s backing for the Special Criminal Court, describing it as “a concerted response to the serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.” He added, “The government remains resolved to cooperate with the SCC in order to guarantee its functional independence and encourage respect for its decisions throughout the country.”
Turning to regional security concerns, Nzessioué warned that the conflict in Sudan threatens to destabilize the Central African Republic. “Armed groups are crossing our borders, recruiting young people, and compromising our sovereignty in clear violation of our territory integrity,” he said, urging the Security Council to support an inclusive political process in Sudan, in coordination with the African Union, IGAD, and other international partners.
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