S/PV.7747 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/2016/638, which contains the text of a draft resolution submitted by France. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2016/565, which contains the special report of the Secretary-General on the strategic review of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic. 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.

The draft resolution received 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 2301 (2016). I shall now give the floor to the member of the Council who wishes to make a statement following the voting.

The Security Council has just adopted resolution 2301 (2016), which renews the mandate of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). We welcome the fact that, by adopting the resolution unanimously, the Council has sent a united message of its support for MINUSCA and for the Central African Republic. The challenge in the negotiations that have come to an end today was to adapt MINUSCA’s mandate to the new circumstances in the country. With the transition having succeeded, stabilization must now succeed. It is an ambitious undertaking — to be met first and foremost by the country’s new democratically elected authorities. There are many programmes to be put in place in order to address the root causes of the conflict in the country. In that major taks, the authorities of the Central African Republic can count on MINUSCA’s support via an expanded mandate. As everyone can see, we have tried to organize the mandate so as to provide greater clarity, in large part to align it with the various stages of implementation. As was the case last year, we have encouraged the Secretary-General to provide MINUSCA with the necessary resources in line with the restructured mandate. This is a big job, but with MINUSCA’s nearly 13,000 uniformed personnel and significant civilian component, the Mission has the capability to carry it out. The Mission must establish its authority and credibility, especially when it comes to the armed groups or anyone who may attempt to derail the political process. Finally, we riteraterate our confidence in, and support for, Special Representative of the Secretary- General Parfait Onanga-Anyanga.

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

I would first like to congratulate you, Mr. President, on the successful initiatives that you have undertaken during your presidency of the Security Council, including the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). I convey to you the gratitude of the Government and the people of the Central African Republic. Likewise, I would like to pay tribute to the members of the Security Council for their unanimous support for resolution 2301 (2016), initiated by France. We welcome the fact that the Security Council has today decided to renew the mandate of MINUSCA. The resolution is quite comprehensive and reflects the level of ambition we have for this United Nations Mission. The Mission’s presence in the Central African Republic is essential for the stability of the country and of the civilian population. All the provisions of the text are important, but I want especially to highlight several points. First, with regard to the protection of civilians, this is the first aspect of the mandate — and it is no coincidence. Although the situation is not comparable to what it was a few months ago, civilians in fact continue to be threatened in their security by the numerous armed criminal groups operating throughout the entire country. In that context, it is essential and vital that MINUSCA be active, even proactive, in its mandate to protect civilians. The Mission must anticipate situations and, where threats exist, intervene robustly and without delay. Members will recall that President Faustin Archange Touadera came specially to the Security Council on 10 June to participate in the debate on the protection of civilians and deliver that very message (see S/PV.7711). Secondly, with regard to neutralizing armed groups, we welcome that the resolution makes the goal of reducing the threat posed by such groups a strategic objective at the heart of the mandate. To that end, we will have to implement a comprehensive strategy consisting of various steps. That, too, is a primary objective of President Touadera, but he will need robust and determined action by MINUSCA to bring that about. Reforming the security sector, restoring State authority in the country, carrying out the disarmament programme and restoring public order and justice are all top Government priorities for which we will rely on MINUSCA. Thirdly, with regard to temporary emergency measures, this will be something new for MINUSCA. We welcome that this is included in the mandate with stronger language, as it is essential that such measures be further implemented. President Touadera asked for this, and it has been done. We now hope that the temporary emergency measures will be implemented with determination. Much has been accomplished in recent months. A year ago the Bangui Forum had just concluded weeks of local consultations, where hundreds of Central Africans were brought together from every province and commitments were made. The Forum was followed by the successful holding of presidential and legislative elections under very good conditions. The transition phase was a success, and we must now move on to the stabilization phase. We then had to adapt the MINUSCA mandate to the new circumstances on the ground. The Secretary-General proposed in his special report (S/2016/565) guidelines that provided a very good basis for doing so, and they are now reflected in the resolution. In his comprehensive briefing on 8 July (see S/PV.7734), the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations rightly urged the international community not to repeat past mistakes because, since the mutinies of 1996, which led to the deployment the first United Nations mission in the Central African Republic, no serious analysis of the post-conflict situation had been made. It was enough of a lull for one to think that all was well. And from the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad, today we have MINUSCA. If we want to avoid such mistakes and relapses and to ensure that MINUSCA is the last United Nations mission in the Central African Republic, it must provide the new authorities with the resources to match the actions they want to take to pull the country and the people out of this state of total deprivation and psychosis — this sword of Damocles hanging over our heads. May the unfailing mobilization and the outstanding solidarity enjoyed by the Central African Republic during its darkest moments manifest themselves once again at the donors conference scheduled for November. The Central African Republic is at a turning point in its history. We must and expect to shoulder the immense task before us, and we are delighted to continue to have the support of the United Nations and the Security Council.