Positive momentum in Central African Republic must be maintained

Mankeur Ndiaye, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and caput of UN peacekeeping operation, MINUSCA, underlined the request to support “positive momentum” arsenic the authorities strive to execute ideology and stableness successful the aftermath of statesmanlike and parliamentary elections. 

Running retired of time 

The UN mission’s mandate expires adjacent month, and Mr. Ndiaye said an hold is particularly needed to assistance with section elections, which person not been held successful much than 30 years.   

The extension, alongside beardown determination by the authorities and engagement by planetary partners, are besides indispensable for the adoption of lasting governmental solutions successful the CAR. 

“With the enactment of each the members of the Council, we volition enactment hard to make the champion usage of our bully offices successful bid to beforehand a transparent coordinated and coherent attack successful bid to make indispensable contributions to the solution of the situation successful the CAR,” helium said, speaking done an interpreter. 

Roadmap for peace 

Mr. Ndiaye described the declaration of the 15 October ceasefire by President Faustin Archange Touadéra arsenic “a large step” towards dialog successful the CAR, a state that has been plagued by equipped unit for astir a decade.  

The truce is successful enactment with a associated roadmap for bid adopted a period earlier by the countries that comprise the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR).  This successful crook has helped to reinvigorate a February 2019 bid woody signed by the Government and 14 equipped groups successful the country. 

It could besides lend to the conducive situation needed for the Government’s planned motorboat of an inclusive dialog with each governmental parties.   

“It is indispensable that each the equipped groups and their leaders without immoderate exception, subscribe successful bully religion to the bid process by fulfilling successful bully religion each their obligations pursuant to the statement of the 6 February and the associated roadmap,” said Mr. Ndiaye, underling the request for accountability.  

President Touadéra, who besides addressed ambassadors by videoconference, said helium was counting connected the Council’s enactment to “safeguard the integrity” of the 2 bid agreements. 

“My declaration of a ceasefire demonstrates erstwhile again, if determination was specified a need, that our lone ambition is to yet find a lasting governmental solution successful the CAR to the situation that we are enduring,” helium said, speaking done an interpreter. 

Rampant insecurity  

Insecurity persists successful assorted areas of the CAR, affecting transportation of humanitarian aid.  Although immoderate 3.1 cardinal radical request extortion and assistance, a humanitarian entreaty for the state is lone astir 60 per cent funded. 

Military operations person been conducted successful effect to equipped radical activities, peculiarly successful the westbound and cardinal regions. Some groups person besides been attempting to “reconquer” erstwhile strongholds successful the northwest, centre and southeast, wherever accrued quality rights violations person been reported.  

“We are besides alert that captious publication of the mandate and the robust posture of MINUSCA contributes to making the governmental process much credible,” said Mr. Ndiaye, urging the Council to supply further unit and resources.   

Zero tolerance for abuse 

However, helium besides highlighted the summation successful intersexual exploitation and maltreatment by unit serving astatine the mission. Last month, the UN announced the contiguous repatriation of each subject units from Gabon pursuing credible reports of alleged maltreatment of girls by unidentified ‘blue helmets’.  

Mr. Ndiaye stressed the request to rigorously enforce the Secretary-General’s zero-tolerance argumentation for specified incidents. “We number connected the members of the Council and the effectual practice of (troop-contributing countries) to enactment an extremity to the scourge by strict compliance with the obligations that are incumbent connected everyone.”