S/PV.7434 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. Members of the Council have before them document S/2015/290, which contains the text of a draft resolution submitted by Angola, Chad, Chile, France, Jordan, Lithuania, Nigeria, Spain, 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/2015/227, which contains the report of the Secretary-General on the situation in the Central African Republic, as well as to document S/2015/248, containing a letter dated 10 April 2015 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the Security Council. The Council is ready to proceed to a vote on the draft resolution before it. I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now.

The draft resolution received 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 2217 (2015). I now give the floor to the representative of the Central African Republic.

At the outset, I should like to take this opportunity to express my infinite gratitude to the Security Council for its recent visit to the Central African Republic, and my sincere congratulations to the hard-working presidency of Jordan. In addressing this organ on 10 April 2014 (see S/PV.7153), the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Central African Repubic affirmed that the adoption of resolution 2149 (2014), authorizing the deployment of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), was a crucial step in the process of restoring security and peace, and hence stability, in the Central African Republic. The deployment of the Mission began 15 September 2014 following the signing of the headquarters agreement between the Central African Government and the United Nations. I wish, on behalf of the Government, to extend the gratitude of the Central African people to all members of the Security Council and to the Secretary-General, and to commend the outstanding work of the European Union-led peacekeeping force and Operation Sangaris, alongside MINUSCA, to restore to an entire nation the hope of finding peace. Resolution 2149 (2014) established the mandate of MINUSCA, which essentially consists of protecting civilians, with particular attention to women and children affected by armed conflict; supporting the implementation of the transition, including the extension of the authority of the State and the maintenance of the territorial integrity of the Central African Republic; facilitating the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the Central African displaced and refugees; working to achieve national justice and the rule of law; and proceeding to disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and repatriation. Eight months after the Mission’s deployment, it should be noted that progress has been made by MINUSCA. It is now necessary to reassess the Mission in order to better adapt its actions to realities on the ground. To date, there has been a real improvement in the security situation in Bangui and in certain provincial localities, despite the periodic resurgence of violence. There are no longer any real confrontations between the two camps in Bangui or in the hinterland. Nevertheless, acts of major banditry persist, including stick-ups, kidnappings and armed robberies. The free movement of people and goods remains a major concern throughout the territory. Joint patrols of MINUSCA, the national police and the gendarmerie have helped to restore security and promote the resumption of economic and commercial activities and the redeployment of the administration to some areas. I thank the Secretary-General for his comprehensive report on the situation in the Central African Republic (S/2015/227), and the Security Council for renewing the MINUSCA mandate, and I welcome the significant progress made in the implementation of its new mandate, which will allow the Central African Government to finalize the timing of the transition, whose outcome will be the long-awaited restoration of constitutional legality. To that end, MINUSCA should not delay in undertaking timely deterrent operations, such as those in Bangui, Sibut, Bambari, Bria and N’Délé, which had the desired effect in the areas occupied by armed groups. Such actions should continue when the situation requires, pending the implementation of the disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and repatriation programme. The decision of the Secretary-General and the Security Council to grant MINUSCA an effective capacity of 750 soldiers, 288 police offciers and 20 prison officers will enable the Mission to fulfil its mandate and to address the security gaps created by its lack of staff. In humanitarian terms, the improvement of the situation is characterized by a gradual return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) both to Bangui and to the provinces through the multifaceted support of humanitarian workers. The highest concentration of IDPs is currently in Bambari, Batangafo and Kaga Bandoro, due to persistent insecurity. Moreover, some refugees in neighbouring countries are beginning to return home. At the political level, since the signing of the Brazzaville agreements the political process has proceeded in accordance with the measures defined under the auspices of the international mediator. The local consultations went smoothly in the 16 prefectures and in some neighbouring countries, thanks to the determination of the Government and the multifaceted support of MINUSCA and the international forces. The preparations for the Bangui Forum, originally scheduled to be held from 27 April to 4 May 4, and which will now take place from 4 to 11 May, are proceeding apace. A steering committee for the Forum has been established and is operational. The National Electory Authority is pursuing its preparations for the electoral process despite the uncertainty surrounding its funding. In this regard, we urgently appeal to the international community for substantial support. Among the goals that have been set by the TransitionalAuthorities is the fight against impunity that was so ardently sought by the people in the local consultations. A step was taken in that direction when the bill establishing a special criminal court to try the most serious crimes committed in the Central African Republic was adopted on 22 April by the National Transitional Council, which is the interim Parliament. This progress is also noticeable in the field of human rights. The support provided by MINUSCA and our various partners has enabled the Government to gradually reconstitute the judicial chain in Bangui and in certain regions of the country. Several perpetrators have been arrested and are awaiting trial. The United Nations Human Rights Council has conducted investigations into violations of human rights and its report has been published. As the Special Representative of the Secretary- General for the Central African Republic and Head of MINUSCA stressed in his briefing to the Security Council on 14 April (see S/PV.7427), Central Africans continue to rely on the Mission for the effective implementation of its mandate, with the ongoing commitment and support of the Council. The international community has a moral obligation to assist the Central African Republic and its people to keep to the path of peace and reconciliation. Special and sustained attention must therefore be maintained, given the complexity of the situation in my country. The Central African delegation wishes to thank all the members of the Security Council for having adopted resolution 2217 (2015) today, and especially the French delegation for having initiated the text, whose content meets the expectations of the Head of State and other stakeholders of the Transition.

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