UN Official Notes Fragility in Border Areas despite Overall Security Improvement
The Central African Republic has made significant progress towards the 2025 elections, the head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the country told the Security Council today, while also noting overall security improvements and persistent fragility in border areas.
Valentine Rugwabiza, Secretary-General's Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), emphasized that the upcoming electoral cycle represents a historic opportunity to lay the foundation for decentralized governance. Recently, national authorities along with MINUSCA's support were able to register 570,000 new voters and had opened the first-ever multiservice post at the country's border with Chad.
However, despite this important progress, serious pockets of insecurity persist, particularly in areas where armed groups try to control mining sites and transhumance corridors, she continued. Implementation of the national border-management policy requires additional support as the conflict in Sudan also threatens to spill over. While welcoming the dissolution of 9 out of 14 armed groups who signed the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation six years ago, she also said that more needs to be done - in collaboration with regional partners - to facilitate the return of armed group leaders and ensure their disarmament.
On the human rights front, she urged the Government to launch the Truth, Justice, Reparation and Reconciliation Commission, through the appointment of its new commissioners. "If left unaddressed, [human rights] crimes could undermine the hard-earned security gains and further erode social cohesion," she warned. Paying tribute to a 29-year-old Tunisian peacekeeper recently killed in an ambush in Bamingui-Bangoran, she urged the authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice.
"We need your support to build a stronger and more inclusive economy in the Central African Republic," said Portia Deya Abazene, President of the Federation of Women Entrepreneurs of the Central African Republic, via video link. Despite the adoption of international conventions and a constitution guaranteeing equal rights, "harmful practices continue to hinder the progress of women in [Central African Republic]", she said, highlighting the low representation of women in leadership positions. Women represent only 15.52 per cent of business owners in certain sectors and face constraints in accessing land, means of production, education, financing, markets and decent employment.
Women Key to Economic Development
Ms. Abazene's organization provides a space for experience-sharing among women entrepreneurs at the local level, as well as training programmes in leadership, management, financial education and digital marketing. "The achievements of Central African women in entrepreneurship are the result of their determination and political will," she underscored, calling for policies promoting female entrepreneurship and easier access to financing. "The Central African Republic will not reach its potential as long as more than 51 per cent of its population" - women - continue to be marginalized, she said.
Council members emphasized the need to address human rights violations in the country, urged its authorities to seize the opportunity to hold credible elections, and highlighted MINUSCA's vital role in helping to expand State authority. Several speakers, however, offered differing views on the root causes of Bangui's instability.
United States, United Kingdom, Russian Federation Trade Barbs
"It is clear that Kremlin-backed actors, purporting to be security partners, are undercutting Central African Republic's authorities and undermining peace with the primary goal of stealing [Central African Republic] resources without contributing to its development," said the representative of the United States. . "It is unacceptable that a member of this Council continues to disseminate disinformation that diminishes the credibility and effectiveness of MINUSCA," he added, expressing serious concern over the violation of the Status of Forces Agreement, namely the blocking of MINUSCA fuel trucks.
The United Kingdom's delegate said his country has information "that proxies directed by the Russian State have plans to interfere with [Central African Republic] elections, including through suppressing political voices and conducting disinformation campaigns to interfere in political debate". They are acting without regard for the country's sovereignty and jeopardizing the dedicated UN role, he said. Also highlighting reports of Wagner Ti Azande and other armed groups committing atrocities against civilians, he called on all actors to the conflict to uphold their obligations under international law.
The representative of the Russian Federation said that, given the considerable security improvements in the Central African Republic, it is "surprising" that the United States and United Kingdom continue "whipping the dead horse of their campaign to smear" her country. This campaign has run out of steam. Moscow remains committed to cooperating with Bangui to achieve lasting peace and security. As far as the security situation, she expressed concerns for the area bordering Sudan, which has become an "additional burden" of human rights concerns. Successful municipal elections in July will be a "milestone on the road to peaceful life" in the Central African Republic.
The representative of China, Council President for February, speaking in his national capacity, said the situation in the country "is good, in general", with progress in enhancing governance capacity and consolidating political gains. MINUSCA must prioritize support for election preparations, he said, adding that the international community should avoid undue external interference.
Democratic, Inclusive, Fair Elections
The representative of Somalia, also speaking for Algeria, Guyana and Sierra Leone, welcomed the inauguration of "the first-ever multiservice border post in the Central African Republic" built with MINUSCA's support. Despite security, logistical and financial challenges - preparations towards local, legislative and presidential elections are progressing. Emphasizing the need for open and constructive dialogue between the Government and opposition parties, he also called for "concerted" efforts to ensure that all eligible citizens are registered to vote. "We wish to underline that the success of the local election process is essential for the strengthening of direct democracy, legitimacy, local development and the extension of State authority throughout the national territory," he added.
Other speakers also said that the upcoming elections were a unique opportunity for the Central African Republic, with Panama's delegate emphasizing that 2025 is a "pivotal year" for Bangui. "These will be the first local elections in more than three decades," he said, urging the Government to guarantee that "these elections will be carried out in a peaceful environment". Slovenia's delegate said that, while local elections can signify a major step in the further decentralization of the country, they "will only be considered credible and democratic, if all eligible voters are able to register and cast their vote, including women, youth, minorities, internally displaced persons, returnees and refugees".
Fear of Sudan Conflict Spillover
Joining others in expressing concern over the spillover of the conflict in Sudan, the representative of the Republic of Korea said that the presence of the Rapid Support Forces - a paramilitary group in Sudan - in the Central African Republic "only brings more risk to the already-fragile landscape". Similarly, Greece's representative said that recent gains in border-management policy "are undermined by the transiting of armed groups across the porous north-eastern region".
Pakistan's delegate noted that his country had contributed 1,300 troops to MINUSCA and expressed concern over the shortfall in funding. "As of 4 February, unpaid assessed contributions to the Special Account for MINUSCA amounted to $570.7 million," he said. Other Council members also stressed the need to provide financial and material support for the Central African Republic, with France's delegate noting that Paris has allocated €2 million to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for Bangui's upcoming elections, and €200,000 to enable the country's Special Criminal Court to function. Peacebuilding "depends on progress achieved in combating impunity", he stressed.
The representative of the Central African Republic, detailing his country's "considerable progress in pursuing peace" since the signing of the 2019 peace agreement, reported that 9 of 14 armed groups have dissolved, 7,000 combatants have disarmed and demobilized, and 20,000 weapons of various calibres have been collected. "This is a sign of historic progress," he stressed, while noting the "one major challenge" remaining - "the complete eradication of isolated armed groups, which continue to carry out atrocities against civilians". To the armed groups that remain, he underscored: "The door for dialogue remains wide open."
He went on to stress: "Insecurity directly threatens the democratic process that we intend to consolidate." Noting that the crisis is Sudan is seriously impacting his own, he called on the international community to support Bangui's forces; provide training, logistical and intelligence support; and strengthen MINUSCA's mandate so the Mission can be more proactive in addressing security threats. And for the ongoing electoral process - "a fundamental pillar for stability and lasting peace" - he appealed for financial support amounting to $7 million. "By supporting this process, the international community will be directly contributing to peace and development in our country," he said.
