S/PV.8666 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/2019/877, which contains the text of a draft resolution submitted by France. 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 2499 (2019). I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements.

France welcomes the unanimous adoption of resolution 2499 (2019), renewing the mandate of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) for one year. France has actively worked to promote that consensus, and I would like to thank all the members of the Council for their spirit of compromise. This resolution maintains the format and the proactive and robust mandate of MINUSCA; that is a key element. MINUSCA has repeatedly demonstrated that it can act effectively and proportionately to protect civilian populations from the threat of armed groups, including those groups that signed the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic. MINUSCA must also continue to support the deployment of the Central African Armed Forces so that it can also contribute to the security of the population. Secondly, the resolution authorizes MINUSCA to continue its support for the implementation of the peace agreement of 6 February. That agreement is indeed the only path towards a lasting peace in the Central African Republic, and while progress has been achieved, significant challenges remain. Armed groups must stop violating their commitments. The guarantors of the agreement must implement its measures, including the sanctions provided for in article 35 of the peace agreement. Justice must be rendered to the victims. The international community, and in particular the countries of the region, must continue to support the implementation of that agreement in a coordinated manner. Finally, the resolution authorizes MINUSCA to support preparations for and the holding of the 2020- 2021 presidential and legislative elections, with a framework for providing adequate financial resources to do so. It is essential that all Central African stakeholders work constructively to ensure that the elections are held in a peaceful and transparent manner and in accordance with constitutional timelines, as no transition can be otherwise envisaged. I would also like to stress the importance of all partners of the Central African Republic mobilizing in support of the elections. France will continue to strongly support the work of MINUSCA and its Special Representative of the Secretary-General. We will also continue to lend our full support to President Touadera and the people of the Central African Republic to help them find a lasting solution to the crisis.

Equatorial Guinea, South Africa and Côte d’Ivoire welcome the adoption of resolution 2499 (2019), renewing the mandate of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) for another year. Indeed, the renewal of MINUSCA’s mandate will support the tangible progress made by the authorities of the Central African Republic in implementing the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic. The three African members of the Security Council commend France’s penholdership for ensuring transparent negotiations and all other delegations for their constructive contributions, resulting in a resolution that highlights the interests of the Central African Republic and its people at a pivotal time for the country. We have been closely following the situation in the Central African Republic since the signing of the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation of 6 February between the Government and armed groups. In that regard, we commend President Faustin Archange Touadera and his Government for their commitment to and constant efforts aimed at promoting lasting peace and stability in the Central African Republic. We believe that MINUSCA has played a vital role in supporting peace efforts in the Central African Republic and should continue its mission by being equipped with adequate resources. The gradual restoration of State authority throughout the Central African Republic and the improvement of living conditions for the population constitute a real hope for the return of a lasting peace in the country. The fact that those imperatives are taken into account in the text of the resolution guided the three African members of the Council in voting in favour of the resolution. In that context, the three African members of the Council welcome the work done by MINUSCA and its regional partners in strengthening the capacity of the defence and security forces of the Central African Republic. Moreover, we encourage coherence, transparency and effective coordination in providing international support to the Central African Republic. The coming year marks a turning point in the political life of the Central African Republic, which is currently engaged in preparations for the 2020-2021 elections. The three African members of the Council welcome the fact that the resolution includes national priorities, as expressed by the authorities of the Central African Republic, including MINUSCA’s support for the holding of the 2020-2021 elections. We recall that MINUSCA’s ongoing support is essential to ensuring a credible and inclusive electoral process. That is why we are endorsing timely operational, logistical and security support for MINUSCA in helping with the holding of elections, as well as the coordination of international support and the Mission’s current robust mandate, good offices and technical assistance. Lastly, Equatorial Guinea, South Africa and Côte d’Ivoire reiterate their support for MINUSCA and President Faustin Archange Touadera, whose commitment and leadership should contribute to the return of lasting peace and stability in the Central African Republic.

At the outset, Indonesia also welcomes the unanimous adoption of resolution 2499 (2019). We thank the penholder for their efforts in finding a compromise among the divergent positions. We heard the call from the Central African Republic for the extension of the mandate of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) and maintaining its troop ceiling. The role of MINUSCA is indeed crucial in maintaining peace and stability in the country as well as protecting its civilians. That is why Indonesia voted in favour of resolution 2499 (2019). I have taken the floor to highlight the following points. First, MINUSCA is, first and foremost, a peacekeeping mission. We salute our peacekeepers for risking their lives and leaving their families behind to pursue peace in the Central African Republic. Their safety and security will always be a top priority for Indonesia; I would like to make that crystal-clear. Secondly, it is important to ensure that United Nations peacekeeping operations will always be a collective effort in which all stakeholders play an important role. We therefore emphasize the need for regular, close consultations between the United Nations and troop- and police-contributing countries to enhance mandate awareness, as well as form better-performing peacekeepers. It is only logical that countries providing people for peacekeeping missions should be properly engaged. At present, we are the largest contributor of personnel to MINUSCA on the Council. Indonesia has always highlighted the importance of the professionalism of our peacekeepers in implementing their mandates on the ground. Nevertheless, for a peacekeeping mission to succeed, professionalism should not be limited only to contingent or uniformed personnel. Professionalism applies to everyone, including non-uniformed elements. At the same time, we also believe that outstanding performance should also be recognized and incentivized. We will continue to seek such balance in future peacekeeping resolutions. Thirdly, the United Nations peacekeeping operation must be fully prepared, especially in the face of the changing and complex situation, as well as the increasingly dangerous security environment. That is why it is critical to ensure that the Mission is given clear mandates, as well as the necessary equipment and resources.

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

At the outset, I would like to congratulate the United Kingdom on its presidency of the Security Council for the month of November and express to it the sincere gratitude of the Central African Republic for the convening of this meeting on the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). I also commend South Africa on its presidency in October. My delegation welcomes the unanimous adoption of resolution 2499 (2019), which renews the mandate of MINUSCA for one year. In an environment that continues to be marked by the persistence of extreme violence and clashes among the armed groups that were signatories to the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic of 6 February, as evidenced by the horrific events of Birao, which took a high toll on the population and led to massive displacements, it is imperative that the Security Council firmly reassert its support for MINUSCA and the authorities of the Central African Republic. Like previous resolutions, the one just adopted maintains MINUSCA’s robust framework and mandate; that is important. MINUSCA, which operates in a challenging environment, has repeatedly demonstrated that when necessary, it is able to act proactively and robustly to protect civilian populations, particularly those segments of the population that are most vulnerable, namely, women and children, from the threats posed by armed groups. The resolution renews the authorization of additional support for MINUSCA and the authorities of the Central African Republic in extending State authority throughout the national territory. Thus far, the prefects have been designated in all the country’s 16 prefectures, and the number of officials deployed in the field has more than doubled. Despite such tangible progress in various areas, important challenges remain that are hampering our collective efforts to stabilize the Central African Republic, including violations of human rights and international humanitarian law and several violations of the peace agreement. That assessment has in no way slowed down the implementation of the agreement, which remains the framework of reference for the return to stability in my country. My delegation welcomes the commitment of the neighbouring countries of the Central African Republic and the Economic Community of Central African States to that effort and calls for their continued support. The holding of the 2020-2021 general elections remains one of the challenges that the national authorities, MINUSCA and the international community must address. Like those of 2015 and 2016, the upcoming elections will require much energy and effort, given the undeniable fact that they will make it possible to consolidate the democratic gains made in the Central African Republic. The preliminary timetable for the general elections has already been made available. In his briefing before the Security Council on 25 October (see S/PV.8646), the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the Central African Republic reported on the publication of the electoral calendar by the national electoral authority, which provides for voter registration from January 2020, a first round of coupled presidential and legislative elections on 27 December 2020, and a second round, if necessary, on 14 February 2021. In that regard, through me, the Government requests that, as recommended by the Secretary-General in paragraph 102 of his latest report on the Central African Republic (S/2019/822) and called for in paragraph 32 (c) of resolution 2499 (2019), MINUSCA be provided with an adequate mandate so that it can ensure the necessary technical, logistical, security and operational support for the holding of the elections while honouring constitutional deadlines in a peaceful environment. There is no alternative to the holding of the 2020- 2021 general elections. Holding on to the gains of the peace agreement depends on it. My delegation appreciates the firm stance taken by the guarantors of the agreement that have reaffirmed to all Central African Republic stakeholders that no effort will be spared in ensuring that the elections are held on schedule. The support of the Security Council in the exercise of its full authority is key so that the actors concerned, in particular the political parties, respect the deadlines and contribute constructively to the effective holding of the elections. We take this opportunity to welcome the convergent positions and the coordinated work of the African Union, the United Nations, the European Union and the entire international community, as well as bilateral and multilateral partners, in their engagement with Central African Republic stakeholders. Allow me to conclude by citing Mr. Ndiaye, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, who, in presenting the report of the Secretary-General, stated, “The Central African Republic needs all its partners and friends in order to transform the dream of peace, prosperity and development of millions of Central Africans into a lasting reality. I know they can also count on the unanimous and generous support of the Security Council”. (S/PV.8646, p. 5) The Council’s support for the adoption of resolution 2499 (2019) renewing MINUSCA’s mandate for an additional year is an especially eloquent gesture for which the Government and the people of the Central African Republic are grateful to the Council.