S/PV.10041 Security Council

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representative of the Central African Republic to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2025/638, which contains the report of the Secretary-General on the Central African Republic. Members of the Council have before them document S/2025/737, which contains the text of a draft resolution submitted by France. The Council is ready to proceed to a vote on the draft resolution before it. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements before the voting.

I welcome the presence among us of the representative of the Central African Republic. The text that we are about to vote upon (S/2025/737) provides for the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) for an additional year. The text marks a significant development in the Council’s efforts and those of the international community to support the stabilization of the Central African Republic. Over the past few months, under the authority of the Special Representative of the Secretary- General, significant progress has indeed been achieved. With this draft resolution, MINUSCA will be able to continue working in its priority areas, including the organization of elections, the protection of civilians, the extension of State authority throughout the entire country and the implementation of the peace process. The task at hand for the Council is to respond to the Central African Republic’s request for continued support during the crucial period that is just beginning and thereby to consolidate the progress achieved in recent years. The challenge is to ensure the sustainable restoration of peace and security in the country, a prerequisite for the subsequent gradual, orderly and successful transfer of peacekeeping responsibilities to national authorities and to make MINUSCA a peacekeeping success story. Throughout the drafting process, France made every effort to lead inclusive negotiations and to take into account the positions of every Member State. France thanks all Council members and welcomes the excellent coordination with the Central African Republic. The constructive engagement by all in the discussions made it possible to arrive at a balanced text that is as consensual as possible. A path to peace and normalization has opened up. Let us send the Central African Republic the message of support that it needs.

I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now.

The draft resolution received 14 votes in favour, none against and 1 abstention. The draft resolution has been adopted as resolution 2800 (2025). I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Sierra Leone. I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the three African members of the Security Council plus (A3+), namely, Algeria, Guyana, Somalia and my own country, Sierra Leone. We thank the penholder, France, for its constructive approach during the smooth negotiation process. The A3+ welcomes the adoption of resolution 2800 (2025), which renews and extends the mandate of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) pursuant to resolution 2745 (2024). We are particularly pleased that the Council continues to demonstrate such unity on the activities of MINUSCA, which is reflective of significant progress on the ground over the past year. The Central African Republic is at a critical crossroads. Despite the significant progress made on restoring State authority in all parts of the country, with immense support from MINUSCA, including MINUSCA’s assistance to overcome the threats posed by armed groups, the security situation along its common borders remains fragile. The A3+ wishes to remind the Council that, as the electoral cycle has entered an active and decisive phase in the midst of difficult resource constraint, with four tiers of elections  — that is, the presidential, legislative, regional and municipal elections  — scheduled for 28 December, the outcome will be a turning point in terms of extending and consolidating State authority and anchoring institutional stability. We wish to recall that local elections are being held for the first time in more than three decades and will represent a significant milestone in the Central African Republic’s democracy. The A3+ welcomes the Government’s continued efforts and the progress made in the peace and disarmament, demobilization and reintegration processes and calls on the Government to spare no effort in ensuring that these processes remain on track, transparent and nationally led. In this context, the A3+ reaffirms that MINUSCA remains indispensable to the Central African Republic’s stabilization and that discussion of a transition or reconfiguration must be guided by the progress and practical realities on the ground and in close consultation with the national authorities. In conclusion, we are also mindful of the liquidity challenges facing the United Nations. However, we still underscore the need for predictable and sustainable financing for MINUSCA to effectively deliver its mandate. The A3+ remains steadfast in its commitment to peace, stability and the full restoration of State authority in the Central African Republic. The A3+ looks forward to continued progress and stands ready to support the Government and the people of the Central African Republic on their path to sustaining peace. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. Pakistan voted in favour of the resolution. With 1,400 troops, we are among the top troop contributors to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). MINUSCA is one of the success stories of United Nations peacekeeping. Over the past decade, it has played a critical role in stabilizing the Central African Republic. Through its multidimensional approach combining political engagement, the protection of civilians, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, electoral support, the extension of State authority and assistance to national institutions, MINUSCA has embodied the very essence of multidimensional peace operations. Cooperation between the Mission and the host authorities has also remained exemplary. Pakistan hopes that the Mission’s transition discussions within the Security Council and with the host Government will be guided by on-the-ground realities, national priorities and the imperative of preserving the gains achieved over the past decade through immense sacrifice. The focus should remain on a careful and conditions-based transition, not risking reversal through undue haste or external pressures. Maintaining international peace and security is the core responsibility of the Council under the Charter of the United Nations. United Nations peacekeeping remains the most effective and visible instrument at the Council’s disposal to fulfil that mandate. MINUSCA is a clear example that peacekeeping works. This vital instrument must be employed effectively to advance political solutions, protect civilians and preserve stability. It must remain a collective endeavour.

The United States appreciates France’s efforts to incorporate our position into this resolution (resolution 2800 (2025)). Unfortunately, we do not believe that a one-year extension of the mandate or the reduction in the troop ceiling accurately reflects a number of priorities of the Council or the situation on the ground. And for that reason, we had to abstain in the voting. The Central African Republic, we agree, is at a pivotal time. With upcoming elections, the country stands at an important milestone on the path to peace, stability and prosperity. Given this, the United States proposed extending the current mandate of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) for six months, We believe strongly, as I am sure many on the Council also believe, that the upcoming elections are a key indicator for MINUSCA’s mandate implementation, showing both the Central African Republic Government’s commitment to peaceful political processes and its ability to extend and maintain State authority. Both our Mission and the Central African Republic Government see elections as a milestone for moving into a consolidation phase. The six-month extension would give the Council a clearer picture of which tasks need to be prioritized, and how the mandate would then be adjusted entering the Mission’s consolidation phase, and we were certainly willing to negotiate on a 12-month renewal provided certain conditions were met. The Council should always consider peacekeeping missions as temporary. These missions must work themselves out of a job, and our highest goal as a Council must be to maintain pressure on parties to take the tough political decisions to create a security and political situation in which missions are able to draw down and transfer responsibilities to host Governments. The Council should continually review the cost and size of missions to ensure that Member State contributions are effectively and efficiently directed towards that goal. Our request for a reduction in the troop ceiling was designed to recognize the Mission’s actual operational footprint on the ground and to ensure that only high-performing units are operating in the Mission. Since 2018, we have certainly This mandate — we want to be sure to emphasize — does contain two important developments. By calling for a report on MINUSCA’s progress and planning for the transition of responsibilities to the Central African Republic Government, this mandate takes an important step towards ensuring enhanced accountability and planning for eventual transition. Additionally, we are pleased to see the Council express its firm intent to review troop ceiling numbers after the completion of elections in the Central African Republic. Peacekeeping missions must adapt to the conditions on the ground. As a Council, we must continue to work to ensure that the Mission and the Central African Republic Government are working together towards an eventual drawdown and transition of responsibility, as conditions permit. While MINUSCA plays an important role in the Central African Republic, ultimately the Central African Republic Government is responsible for ensuring progress towards peace, stability and prosperity. We encourage the Central African Republic Government to continue working productively with MINUSCA, and we urge the Government and the political opposition to engage in open and constructive dialogue ahead of these critical upcoming elections.

The Russian Federation voted in favour of extending the mandate of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). The resolution adopted today (resolution 2800 (2025)) clearly evidences that the Security Council supports the Central African Republic Government’s efforts to consolidate significant achievements on such tracks as security and the further sustainable transition to peaceful life. We are pleased to note the incremental progress and normalization of the situation in the Central African Republic, which has been made possible thanks largely to Russia’s support. We note the significant contribution made by MINUSCA to the overall peacekeeping efforts. Especially in recent years, this Mission has proven in practice that United Nations peacekeeping remains a unique and effective tool of international assistance for settling armed conflicts. It is important to note that the Council has spoken out in favour of preserving the key parameters of the mandated resolution, even despite the fierce attempts by one country to modify these parameters to meet national political priorities. We are grateful to the sponsors of the resolution for their constructive and consistent approach to working on the text. The Mission’s full support for the Central African Republic authorities is particularly important in the upcoming election period. Without a doubt, the successful completion of this period will turn this tragic page of the Central African Republic’s history and pave the way for a responsible and gradual shift in the focus of international assistance to the sphere of development. We stand ready to continue to support our Central African friends on this arduous path, and we wish them every success in the upcoming general elections.

For some time now, under the leadership of Special Representative Rugwabiza, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) has With the political and peace process in the Central African Republic at a critical juncture, the encouragement and support of the international community are essential. The international community should continue to help the country to consolidate the current positive momentum and support the further implementation of key policy priorities, including the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic and the national development plan, thereby contributing to political stability and economic recovery in the country. China will continue to support the work of Special Representative Rugwabiza and MINUSCA. We expect MINUSCA to implement the relevant recommendations of the independent strategic review released last year, focus its limited resources on the most pressing tasks in the country and continue to enhance the effectiveness of mandate delivery, so as to lay the foundation for its work in the next phase and make due contributions to lasting peace and stability in the country.

I now give the floor to the representative of the Central African Republic.

Allow me at the outset to thank Sierra Leone for the exemplary way in which it has assumed the Security Council presidency for the month of November. The Central African Republic welcomes the one-year renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) and would like me to express its thanks to France for its commitment and wisdom, which led to this outcome. I also express our profound gratitude to all members of the Security Council for their availability, their readiness to listen and the flexibility that they demonstrated throughout the negotiations. This renewal comes at a time at which our country finds itself at a historic turning point — consolidating the achievements of the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic, gradually and irreversibly extending State authority and preparing and organizing local and general elections in 2025 and 2026. I thank all Council members for their spirit of compromise regarding the adjustment of the troop ceiling. This flexibility supports national efforts aimed at ensuring lasting peace and a peaceful, transparent and secure electoral process. Fully aware of the budgetary challenges facing the United Nations and peace financing, the Central African Republic hopes that this mandate renewal will be accompanied by the necessary financial contributions to allow MINUSCA to implement its mandate and thereby respond to the need for peace and the needs of the Central African people. Peace in the Central African Republic will be sustainable only if it continues to be built by Central Africans themselves, in line with the spirit of the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation. The Government has made major progress in the dissolution, disarmament and demobilization of 13 armed groups and in the gradual deployment of defence and security forces, territorial administration and justice. We deeply appreciate the role of MINUSCA, whose multifaceted support remains crucial at this stage of the stabilization process. The Central African Republic reaffirms that MINUSCA’s presence is part of a partnership based on respect for As His Excellency President Faustin Archange Touadera, President of the Republic, recalled in his letter dated 11 October, addressed to the President of the Security Council, the Central African Republic has never considered the presence of MINUSCA a permanent solution. That is why the Government maintains a clear vision, which is to prepare the conditions for a responsible and orderly withdrawal based on the reality on the ground. This transition requires ensuring full security throughout the territory, the reinforcement of national capacities, the strengthening of judicial institutions and consistent support from bilateral and multilateral partners. We welcome the request made to the Secretary-General to present a road map in 2026 for a gradual transfer of tasks to the Central African State, while avoiding a hasty transition that could jeopardize hard-won gains. The protection of civilians remains at the heart of national priorities. We welcome the provisions of the mandate that strengthen the efforts to counter serious human rights violations, protect women and girls against sexual violence, prevent child recruitment and combat hate speech. The Central African Republic will continue its efforts, in particular through the Special Criminal Court; the national courts; and the Truth, Justice, Reparation and Reconciliation Commission, but also in its capacity as a country that champions the Prove It Matters campaign and by renewing its promise to children with the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict. The Central African Republic renews its commitment to work with MINUSCA, the United Nations system and all regional and international partners to consolidate peace, prepare for the holding of peaceful elections and strengthen the authority of the State throughout the territory. We are moving forward with humility and determination, convinced that each step forward is a step towards irreversible peace.