S/PV.7072 Security Council

As this is the first meeting of the Council for the month of December 2013, I should like to take this opportunity to pay tribute, on behalf of the Council, to His Excellency Mr. Liu Jieyi, Permanent Representative of China, for his service as President of the Security Council for the month of November 2013. I am sure I speak for all members of the Council in expressing our deep appreciation to Ambassador Liu Jieyi and his delegation for the great diplomatic skill with which they conducted the Council’s business last month. Adoption of the agenda

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representatives of the Central African Republic, the Congo and Gabon to participate in this meeting. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite His Excellency Mr. Téte António, Permanent Observer of the African Union to the United Nations, to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. Members of the Council have before them document S/2013/717, which contains the text of a draft resolution submitted by the Congo, France, Gabon, Luxembourg, Morocco, the Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Togo, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2013/677, which contains the report of the Secretary-General on the Central African Republic submitted pursuant to paragraph 22 of Security Council resolution 2121 (2013). It is my understanding that the Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now.

There were 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 2027 (2013). I now give the floor to those members of the Council that wish to make statements after the voting.

Togo welcomes the adoption just now of resolution 2027 (2013), on the Central African Republic. We thank all Council members that worked to this end. We congratulate France in particular on having initiated the drafting of the resolution and guided the negotiations leading to its adoption. The situation in the Central African Republic — which everyone agrees to be highly alarming in the light of the rampant violence and serious mass violations of human rights in that country, which would appear to be teetering on the brink of chaos — has required the international community and the Security Council in particular to assume their responsibilities for maintaining peace there and in the subregion. In speaking of the situation in the Central African Republic during his visit to France in November, the Head of State of Togo, whose commitment to fighting terrorist and criminal groups in West Africa, the Sahel and wherever they thrive is well known, said unequivocally that “if that country falls into neglect and the international community does nothing, we risk creating a terrorist sanctuary in the Central African Republic. We cannot accept that.” That is why the adoption of today’s resolution is a source of great satisfaction for my country. Not only does it provide for the deployment of the African-led International Support Mission in the Central African Republic (MISCA) in order to restore order, peace and security in that country, it also authorizes the French forces in the country to take every measure necessary to support MISCA in carrying out its mandate. That deployment authorization, for an initial period of 12 months, is also intended to respond to the efforts of the African Union and the countries of the Economic Community of Central African States, which cannot accept the Central African Republic succumbing to violence and serving as a haven for terrorist and other criminal organizations to destabilize the entire continent. It is now important that the international community lend its full support to MISCA by contributing to the special trust fund to be set up by the Secretary-General to allow the Mission to carry out its mandate. Togo would like in advance to express its gratitude to the countries and bodies that will contribute to the fund. My country reiterates its deep gratitude to France and the African countries that have deployed or are preparing to send military contingents to the Central African Republic. Our hope is that the sacrifice being made by those countries will make it possible to stabilize the country and bring an end to the unseen suffering of the population.

I should like to begin by thanking you, Mr. President, on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council. I also pay tribute to your predecessor, the Ambassador of China, for a successful presidency. Morocco welcomes the Council’s unanimous adoption of resolution 2127 (2013), concering the Central African Republic. The resolution is the culmination of a process by the Council to monitor the worrying situation in the country over the past year. We hope that its adoption will make it possible to begin a new chapter in the tumultuous history of this friendly, brotherly country. Throughout its term on the Council, Morocco has worked alongside France to place the situation in the Central African Republic at the top of the Council’s agenda, just as we did in the case of Mali. We are pleased that the Council has come to unanimity on this resolution. We commend the mobilization of the international community and the Council on the urgent need for an augmented intervention that is able to restore security in the country in order to end the serious crisis it is experiencing. Whether on the security or humanitarian front, the worrying spiral of interreligious clashes — in a country where Christians and Muslims have always lived side by side in peace and harmony  — is a new element in this crisis. We thank France for its efforts leading to the adoption of this resolution, as well as for its commitment to peace on the African continent, both recently in Mali and today in the Central African Republic. We hope that the adoption of the resolution will be a turning point that allows for the swift deployment of French forces in support of the African-led International Support Mission in the Central African Republic. We also hope that it will open a path for the establishment of a peacekeeping operation once the right conditions are in place. In that regard, we share the views of the regional and subregional organizations involved in this crisis that are seriously considering that option. I would especially like to pay well-deserved tribute for the tireless efforts of the Economic Community of Central African States from the beginning of the crisis. Morocco also welcomes this resolution owing to its long history of friendly relations with the Central African Republic. That is why we spared no effort to deploy our soldiers, who will serve as a guard unit for the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in the Central African Republic. We are prepared to further support the Central African Republic on its journey to peace and stability. Such a commitment to peace and development on the African continent on the part of Morocco, which His Majesty the King wants to be ongoing and manifold, will continue beyond the end of our term on the Security Council.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of France. The situation in the Central African Republic is a tragedy. The country’s entire population  — more than 4.5 million people  — is being affected by a humanitarian crisis. The people are being terrorized by militias engaging in the worst sorts of abuses. Murder, rape and looting are the daily lot of thousands of men, women and children. The State, which has collapsed, is unable to protect its population, and the country is now in danger of succumbing to interreligious violence between Christians and Muslims. History teaches us what can happen. It commits us to avoid the worst, and it compels the Security Council to act. The country risks descending into chaos, with uncontrollable and unpredictable effects on the entire region. The risk for mass atrocities exists, as has been unambiguously pointed out by the Secretary-General and the entire community of non-governmental organizations. Hitherto, the Central African Republic had been a forgotten crisis of the sort in which the media were not interested. Given the crisis itself, however, indifference and inaction were not options. France felt it was our collective duty to support action by the African Union and the Economic Community of Central African States to prevent mass atrocities. In his statement at the general debate in September, the President of the French Republic was the first to sound the alarm and call for resolute action by the Security Council (see A/68/PV.5). And France’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, along with the European Union and the United Nations, held a high-level meeting to highlight the humanitarian emergency. The interreligious incidents that occurred this morning in Bangui, with dozens of civilian deaths, only serve to underscore that it is high time to act. The adoption of resolution 2127 (2013) finally makes it possible to take the awaited steps to support the African Union. The African-led International Support Mission in the Central African Republic (MISCA) is endowed with a robust mandate under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations that will allow it to take all necessary measures to protect civilians and neutralize armed groups that refuse to comply with instructions for cantonment and disarmament. In accordance with the request made by the African Union and the transition authorities, the French forces also have a Chapter VII mandate from the Security Council to support MISCA. To that end, the number of French forces will be strengthened in the very near future. France wishes to thank all partners, particularly in Europe, that will support the operation to be carried out in the context of this resolution. The United Nations will be responsible for supporting the financial mobilization in favour of the African Union. I note that the European Union, which is contributing €50 million, will be, as in Somalia, the top contributor to African Union operations. Other contributions will be mobilized on the occasion of the forthcoming donors conference. Pursuant to the request of the African Union and the recommendations of the Secretary-General, this resolution lays the groundwork for the future. It calls on the Secretariat to undertake the preparations necessary for the eventual deployment of a United Nations peacekeeping operation and to prepare a concept of operations within a maximum period of three months. Although restoring security is the priority, the resolution also steps up efforts with regard to elements that are key to the future of the Central African Republic. First, with regard to support for the transition process, the Council explicitly recalls the prohibition against the current transitional authorities participating in the elections, which are to be held by February 2015 at the latest. It also indicates its intention to adopt individual sanctions against individuals who threaten the transition process and thus fuel violence. Secondly, on the fight against human rights violations, at Rwanda’s initiative, an international commission of inquiry based on the Darfur model will be created. It will report its findings within six months. The Security Council has finally shaken off its indifference. It is shouldering its responsibilities to support the African countries and organizations that had the courage to be the first to come to the aid of the long-neglected Central African Republic. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. I give the floor to the representative of the Central African Republic.

I would first like to congratulate you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the month of December and to pay tribute to your predecessor, the Ambassador of China, who did a remarkable job during the month of November. Once again, the population of Bangui woke up this morning under heavy fire, which resulted in lives lost and people injured and displaced. Nevertheless, I am pleased to make this statement to the Council on behalf of a country of 623,000 square kilometres, namely, the Central African Republic, where 4.5 million women, children and men now have the hope that a chapter of humiliation, serious human rights violations, looting and destruction in their history will soon be closed for good. The vote on the resolution just adopted (resolution 2127 (2013)) gives us reason to believe that a new dawn will rise on the Central African Republic. That text will help us deal with the four emergencies facing the country. The first emergency concerns security. Today’s events in Bangui highlight the urgency of action. We trust the African force — the African-led International Support Mission in the Central African Republic, which is supported by French forces and has a mandate under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations — to restore domestic peace and protect all communities irrespective of their ethnicity or religion. However, we want to emphasize that in a country as large as the Central African Republic, that cannot be done without the contribution of the Central African armed forces, which need to be restructured. The second emergency is humanitarian in nature. Non-governmental organizations must be allowed to provide assistance to populations in distress and in need, and the displaced populations must return. The third emergency concerns justice, which is a prerequisite for genuine national reconciliation. In that respect, we welcome the steps already taken and the actions to be taken, which are listed in the resolution. The fourth and final emergency is has to do with reconstruction and the revival of economic activity. With the coming return of secure conditions, we call on the country’s development partners to help the country break free from the vicious circle of poverty and destitution that underlie rebellions and coups d’état. Today, our country is emerging from oblivion. The people of the Central African Republic now feel that they are full members of the community of nations. I would like to pay special tribute to France, the author and sponsor of the resolution just adopted. I also take this opportunity to welcome the steadfast commitment of the Economic Community of Central African States to the search for lasting solutions to the Central African crisis. The presence of troops from its member States in the Central African Republic has prevented the country from falling into total chaos. Let me also thank the other sponsors of the resolution and all the other members of the Security Council, while not forgetting the countries that are friends of the Central African Republic. We express our sincere thanks to the United Nations, the African Union, the European Union, all our bilateral and multilateral partners and non-governmental organizations for their contribution to the search for peace and development in my country. We express our deep gratitude to the international press for helping our country emerge from oblivion. The Central African Republic wants to write a new page in its history. We are ready to fight the battle for freedom and against poverty, which is the legitimate rebellion of the people, so that we can finally sing our national anthem along with the Founding Father of the Central African Republic, Barthélemy Boganda: “Oh! Central Africa, cradle of the Bantu! Take up again your right to respect, to life! Long subjugated, long scorned by all, But, from today, breaking tyranny’s hold. Through work, order and dignity You reconquer your rights, your unity, And to take this new step The voice of our ancestors call us.”

I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Téte António, Permanent Observer of the African Union to the United Nations.

I would like to start by thanking the French presidency of the Security Council for inviting us to take part in this meeting. We also thank all Council members for the adoption of resolution 2127 (2013), and all the countries that sponsored it, which comes at an opportune time. We are delighted by the coordination and cooperation among us and by the participation of our three African members of the Council in this process together with the other Council members. This meeting is being held at a time when the situation in the Central African Republic is continuing to deteriorate. This very morning new incidents occurred in the city of Bangui, highlighting, as if it were necessary, the precarious nature of the situation and the untold suffering that has been inflicted on the civilian population. It is more urgent than ever that the international community mobilize to deal with the situation. It is a matter of both protecting civilian populations that can no longer bear it and avoiding the outright collapse of what remains of the country’s State structures, which would have incalculable consequences for peace, security and regional stability. The adoption today of resolution 2127 (2013) is a crucial step in the formulation of a comprehensive and coordinated response by the international community to the ongoing deterioration of the situation. By authorizing the deployment of the African-led International Support Mission in the Central African Republic (MISCA) and calling for adequate international support for the Mission, the Security Council is reinforcing and strengthening the joint efforts of the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS). We feel we have the full trust of the Security Council and even greater international legitimacy to pursue and intensify the work we have begun. I note that the resolution covers many other aspects that range from the ongoing transition  — the basic principles of which are, appropriately, recalled  — to the protection and promotion of human rights; the rule of law; disarmament, demobilization and reintegration; security sector reform; and the protection of natural resources. In sum, it articulates a comprehensive approach to the situation, one that should allow us to meet the challenges of the day with the urgency required by the situation on the ground. I also note the decision to impose an arms embargo and the Council’s intention of taking targeted measures against individuals who undermine peace and security in the Central African Republic. Those measures are welcome and they are a strong signal to all those who commit atrocities against civilian populations and undermine the efforts to stabilize the situation. Let me express the satisfaction of the African Union upon the adoption of resolution 2127 (2013). I would also like to express our appreciation to all Council members for their commitment to and support for the efforts of Africa. I especially thank the French delegation, which coordinated the drafting of the resolution, for the work it has accomplished. As the Council members know, the African Union has always called for a flexible, innovative and forward- looking partnership with the United Nations, especially the Security Council. In so doing, we are acutely aware of the complexity of the challenges to peace and security that we are facing and of the need for coordinated international action to deal with those challenges. Such partnership presupposes close consultations among all stakeholders in order to facilitate a broad unity of vision and possible action and to take full advantage of the comparative strengths of the different parties, as well as to maximize the impact of our efforts on the ground. From that standpoint, I welcome the way we have worked together throughout the process leading to the adoption of resolution 2127 (2013). We were able, without prejudice to the responsibilities of the Security Council, to share our views with Council members, make suggestions in the formulation of a number of provisions in the text, and indicate how we wanted to be supported. We must build on that progress and on the consultations that have preceded other resolutions of the Council, in particular those concerning Somalia, in order to work better together. For our part, in close coordination with ECCAS, we are addressing problem of ensuring a successful transfer of authority between the Mission for the Consolidation of Peace in the Central African Republic (MICOPAX) and MISCA on 19 December. That process is ongoing and unfolding in favourable conditions. A multidisciplinary team of officials from the AU Commission, with the support of a number of our partners, is en route to Bangui to meet with the MICOPAX leadership and the Secretary General of ECCAS and engae in practical discussions on the modalities of the transfer. The multidisciplinary team will have the job of establishing the general management of MISCA. Further, as Council members know, the African Union Commission has proceeded to appoint, together with ECCAS, the key officials of MISCA, including the Special Representative of the President of the Commission and the Head of MISCA, General Jean- Marie Mokoko of the Republic of the Congo. The heads of the military and police components of MISCA have also been appointed. The Commission is now urgently proceeding to recruit civilian personnel to serve in MISCA. The AU will be present in Bangui to relieve MICOPAX and get MISCA on the right track. The African Union is resolved to ensure that we scrupulously implement the MISCA mandate and do so with the support of the leadership of ECCAS, which is already making sustained efforts to deploy troops on the ground. Those troops are the central core of the military component of MISCA. The ECCAS leadership, which supports MISCA’s mandate, has expressly asked the African Union to pursue efforts to obtain a robust mandate for the Mission from the Security Council, pursuant to Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations. The African Union would therefore like to implement the mandate of MISCA in an aggressive manner, in the spirit of the expectations expressed by the leadership of ECCAS. Similarly, in accordance with the mandate, we will immediately give particular attention to the humanitarian situation, which remains very troubling throughout the country, including the protection of civilian populations. In the theatre of operations, MISCA intends to conduct its activities in coordination with all other international actors already involved in the efforts to restore security and peace in the Central African Republic, in particular, the French detachment in Boali and our initiative for regional cooperation to eliminate the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA); indeed, with very modest means but with the determined support of the United States of America, MISCA has managed to reduce the LRA’s ability to do harm. The initiative continues to pursue its activities. France has committed to strengthening its detachment in the Central African Republic. We welcome that laudable effort with great satisfaction. I would therefore like, before the Council, to express the thanks of the Africa Union to France for its commitment in the Central African Republic following its unequalled efforts in dealing with the situation in Mali. It is appropriate for me, on behalf of the African Union, to thank all our partners who have taken an active role alongside the AU and ECCAS to put an end violence in the Central African Republic and to build sustainable peace in the country. We also thank the European Union for its invaluable financial contribution, which will allow us to play a role in Central African Republic. We also offer our gratitude to the United States of America for its involvement in and contribution to the action of MISCA. I would call on all non-African partners to join in our collective effort to break the cycle of crises in the Central African Republic. I would also call for African solidarity and that of States members of the African Union in coming together at the side of a fraternal State going through difficulties.

There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers.