S/PV.9105 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. On behalf of the Council, I welcome Her Excellency Ms. Sylvie Valérie Baipo Temon, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Francophonie and Central Africans Abroad of the Central African Republic. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. Members of the Council have before them document S/2022/579, which contains the text of a draft resolution submitted by France. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2022/489, which contains the text of a letter dated 14 June 2022 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the Security Council, and document S/2022/527, which contains the text of a letter dated 29 June 2022 from the Panel of Experts on the Central African Republic extended pursuant to resolution 2588 (2021) addressed to the President of the Security Council. 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 10 votes in favour, none against and 5 abstentions. The draft resolution has been adopted as resolution 2648 (2022). I now give the floor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Francophonie and Central Africans Abroad of the Central African Republic.

At the outset, I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for convening this meeting on the adoption of resolution 2648 (2022), submitted by France in its capacity as penholder on issues concerning the Central African Republic. First, let me thank all the members of the Security Council for participating in the debate on the embargo in the resolution submitted for their consideration. The arms embargo, which was established in 2013 to the detriment of the governmental forces, is a crucial issue for the Central African Republic. That is why, while we have taken note of the results of the vote on resolution 2648 (2022) and the progress represented by its adoption just now, the Central African Republic would first like to commend Council members for their efforts in the discussions on the resolution, and secondly to express its satisfaction with the first significant step to have been made with regard to the embargo on armed groups, although since the resolution is the first of its kind, it still remains to be seen how it can be applied to armed groups. But it is nevertheless welcomed and to be encouraged. We would also like to thank the States that in their awareness of the injustice and ineffectiveness of the arms embargo on the forces of the Central African Republic have been willing to voice their support for lifting it completely. I especially want to thank the People’s Republic of China, whose consistent position and call for taking into account the realities on the ground in terms of the imbalance in the power dynamics between the Government forces and those of the rebels are appreciated; the Russian Federation, whose steadfast support for the arguments concerning the reality on the ground in the Central African Republic has also been unwavering; and the three African members of the Security Council, Gabon, Kenya and Ghana (A3), which have given us a great example, and more, of how African solidarity requires us to speak with one voice. I would like to take this opportunity to remind the Council that this concerns Africa as a whole, not just the file on the Central African Republic. The threat facing my country is one that is confronting the entire subregion and African continent. As Council members are aware, given the fact that the Central African Republic is located geographically at the heart of Africa, it would be delusional to believe that when the heart is sick the rest of the body can fare better. Furthermore, the history of Africa reminds us that the struggle for African independence was motivated by our illustrious founding fathers’ desire to remain united and indivisible in order to avoid becoming vulnerable to the inconstancy of the world through our own disparities. That position is firmly supported by the A3 in line with that of all continental and other African organizations through the African Union Commission, which, in its 27 July communiqué reiterated its call to the A3 to show solidarity in accordance with the African mandate conferred on them, and the principles of the African Union Charter, which opposes unjust sanctions on our States. I would be remiss in concluding our thanks if I did not express the gratitude of the Government and the people of the Central African Republic to all the States represented here today that have supported the Central African Republic’s appeal and therefore a better way forward for my country. With regard to resolution 2648 (2022), my country welcomes the progress it represents in dismissing the notion of limiting access to certain categories of weapons for the governmental and legitimate forces of the Central African Republic, with a view to ensuring that they can be provided with adequate equipment against the backdrop of the security-sector reform that is under way. Indeed, the resolution adopted today no longer adheres strictly to the concept of an arms embargo but rather creates the possibility for our forces to equip themselves, subject to notification to the Committee established pursuant to resolution 2127 (2013) concerning the Central African Republic. We do not need to point to the importance that the subject of our meeting today has for the Central African Republic. The arms embargo established nine years ago in 2013 has been a major issue for the Government and the people of my country. It is therefore an honour for me to be with the Council members at this important meeting to reiterate our position. I am delighted to be the voice of the Central African Republic today before the Council, a voice that has often been drowned out by misinformation, manipulation of the media and censorship. But against all adversity, it has stayed the course in its noble mission to make itself heard in order to legitimately articulate the injustices that 5 million people have suffered not just since the emergence of the Séléka coalition in 2013 but for decades and even centuries prior to that. The Central African Republic has consistently condemned an embargo that has become unjust. I concede that at the height of the crisis in 2013 the embargo could be understood in terms of the urgent need to contain the exponential proliferation of weapons resulting from the unprecedented violence of the Séléka rebellion and the abandonment of the people by the authorities of the Central African Republic at the time, who were duty bound to protect them. Today, however, the embargo can no longer be justified unless it is by a desire to leave a country and its people at the mercy of extremists. The embargo established in 2013 has unquestionably been ineffective, as it has failed to provide concrete solutions to the serious problems posed by the spread of weapons through the militias and extremist rebels in possession of an overwhelming number of sophisticated weapons. In that regard, the resolution adopted today does not respond to the Central African Republic’s legitimate request, for it implicitly maintains the sanctions regime merely by upholding its precedent. I reiterate that the Central African Republic is requesting the total lifting of the embargo, and with it an acknowledgement of the legitimacy of the ruling authorities and the Government’s efforts. I will conclude by once again expressing my gratitude to and recognition of all the States that were able to make the voice of the Central African Republic heard in order to better understand the reality on the ground.

I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements.

France welcomes the adoption of resolution 2648 (2022), which renews the mandate of the Panel of Experts on the Central African Republic for one year. We call on all members of the Security Council to enable the Panel to continue its work as effectively as possible by ensuring the rapid appointment of its members. The Panel’s inability to work for more than eight months of the past year has meant that a number of serious incidents, such as in Boyo in December 2021 and Aigbando in January, have been passed over in silence. Investigations are essential to uncovering the truth about such violent incidents and those responsible for them. We should remind the Council that upholding human rights law and international humanitarian law is a prerequisite to the support of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic for the Armed Forces of the Central African Republic. The goal of the arms embargo has always been to reduce the threat posed by armed groups in the Central African Republic. We should point out that the Security Council has always been attentive to the need for the country’s armed forces to be provided with the necessary equipment, and as a result they have received more than 20,000 weapons and 29 million rounds of ammunition in recent years. Today the Security Council decided to go even further by making it even easier for the Central African Republic’s armed forces to acquire all types of weapons and ammunition. That sends a strong message to the Central African Republic, whose greater involvement is key to combating the proliferation of weapons in the country, and to its defence and security forces, on the importance of ensuring respect human rights law and international humanitarian law. We will continue to follow vigilantly the implementation of the benchmarks, whose importance the African Union Peace and Security Council has just underlined. In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that the peace process must remain a priority for all of us. The Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic and the Luanda road map are our only hope for lasting stability and reconciliation. France reiterates its full support for the efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the Central African Republic, the African Union, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, the Economic Community of Central African States and Rwanda and Angola. We call on all the parties to fully commit to the peace process.

At the outset, I would like to welcome Ms. Baipo Temon, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Central African Republic, to today’s meeting. China abstained in the voting on resolution 2648 (2022), which was just adopted by the Council, on the issue of sanctions on the Central African Republic. We welcome the fact that resolution 2648 (2022) makes substantial adjustments to the arms embargo on the Government of the Central African Republic in response to firm requests by the Government and by various members of the Council. However, we believe that the resolution still contains a number of restrictive measures that could pose unnecessary obstacles to the defence capacity-building of the Government of the Central African Republic. There is still room for improvement until the sanctions are completely lifted. The Security Council imposed a comprehensive arms embargo on the Central African Republic in 2013, and those measures played an important role in preventing the situation in the country from deteriorating and controlling the proliferation of arms in the light of the conditions that pertained at that time. Given the progress that the country has made in recent years and the continuing improvement in the security situation, the arms-embargo measures have become increasingly incompatible with developments in the Central African Republic. They are not only failing to prevent the rebels from acquiring weapons, but they are preventing the Government from strengthening its security capacity-building. The Government of the Central African Republic has repeatedly called for the arms embargo to be lifted and has received positive responses from the countries of the region. The recent summit of the Economic Community of Central African States and meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council on the situation in the Central African Republic have both supported lifting the arms embargo. The International Conference on the Great Lakes Region has also clearly expressed its support. During the past few years, China and the relevant Council members have continued to call on the Council to lift the arms embargo and have encouraged the Council to gradually relax the embargo measures. Under the resolution just adopted, the Government of the Central African Republic no longer requires the approval of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 2127 (2013) concerning the Central African Republic to acquire arms in future, which reflects full respect for the ownership that the Government of the Central African Republic has demonstrated on the security front. We believe that it will take this opportunity to strengthen security capacity-building, improve its management of arms and ammunition and lay a solid foundation for the country’s long-term peace and security. In the past 20 years or so, the Council’s sanctions mechanisms have shown a tendency to expand, with negative consequences for peoples and their livelihoods that cannot be ignored. Such measures increasingly interfere with ordinary people’s economic and social activities. In recent years, African countries such as the Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have proposed that arms embargoes and other sanctions be lifted, arguing that they have had a negative impact on their ability to enhance their security. These reasonable demands are widely supported by African countries but still face considerable resistance in the Security Council. The Council’s sanctions and arms embargo measures should not be indefinite. We call on the relevant members of the Council to consider the legitimate concerns and demands of African countries, and based on these adjustments to arms sanctions, to conduct an urgent and comprehensive review of existing sanctions mechanisms and adjust or lift those that do not meet the needs of specific situations as soon as possible.

I welcome the participation of Her Excellency Ms. Sylvie Baipo Temon in today’s deliberations following the voting and congratulate the Foreign Minister for the significant victory she has won for her country today. Her persistence and determination are a vivid demonstration of the great wins that countries can enjoy if they embrace the women and peace and security agenda in ensuring the equality and inclusion of women in key decision-making positions. The Kenyan delegation thanks France for facilitating the negotiations on resolution 2648 (2022), leading to its adoption. We appreciate the fact that some of the proposals made by Kenya and Gabon are in the text. Indeed, the new resolution has taken a positive step towards a full lifting of the arms embargo. However, Kenya abstained in the voting because in our view, the resolution still falls short of the full lifting of the arms embargo on the Government of the Central African Republic, as advocated by the Government itself, the African Union, the Economic Community of Central African States and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region. All of those bodies have a clear analysis of what is going on in the Central African Republic and are united in calling for the embargo on its Government to be fully lifted. In line with the provisions of Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations, the least the Council should do is to give those regional organizations a more respectful hearing. We reiterate our assertion during the renewal of the sanctions on the Democratic Republic of the Congo last month (see S/PV.9084) that the notification requirement is unnecessary. It is an ineffective tool for addressing the illicit proliferation and supply of weapons to armed groups. If anything, it serves only to reveal information that should otherwise remain privileged to a sovereign State. Meanwhile, armed groups have been acquiring superior arms through illicit trafficking networks, financed by the illegal exploitation of the country’s natural resources. That has given them an advantage over Government forces. In that regard, we hope that the Council will listen to the voices of Central Africans and the relevant regional organizations and take the remaining step of removing the notification requirement as soon as possible. In the meantime, we encourage the Government of the Central African Republic and all parties in the country to redouble their efforts to implement the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic through the Luanda road map. They should also stay on course to expedite security-sector reform. Kenya will continue supporting the people of the Central African Republic in their quest for peace, while always respecting their political independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

First of all, we would like to congratulate the delegation of Brazil on a successful conclusion to its presidency of the Security Council this month. We appreciate our colleagues’ professionalism. We also welcome Ms. Sylvie Baipo Temon, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Central African Republic, to this meeting. The Russian Federation abstained in the voting on resolution 2648 (2022), on the renewal of the sanctions regime for the Central African Republic, proposed by France. Nevertheless, we note the efforts that the French delegation made to bring Council members’ positions closer together. Russia has emphasized on many occasions in this Chamber, as well as during the consultations on the draft of the resolution, that the Security Council must, finally, respond to the repeated requests of the Government of the Central African Republic to lift the sanctions on arms and military equipment needed to supply the country’s security sector. In October of last year, President Touadera of the Central African Republic personally appealed to the Security Council, also not for the first time, to show wisdom and lift the arms embargo that has prevented his country from fighting the illegal armed groups. It is no secret to anyone that the restrictions imposed on the Central African Republic made life in Bangui itself more challenging right from the start. And the rebels are still receiving all the weapons they need through every possible channel. In June of last year, President Lourenço of Angola visited New York in his capacity as Chair of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region and spoke in the Security Council in support of the Central African Republic (see S/PV.8802). The African Union has also expressed its position clearly, unanimously and repeatedly, requesting the Security Council to lift the embargo in order to ensure that the national defence and security forces of the Central African Republic can effectively carry out their constitutional mandate to protect the country and its people. The voice of African States has again gone unheard, despite the frequent promises made in this Chamber to take account of the views of regional organizations in our work, a situation that once again emphasizes the importance of further strengthening African solidarity on a wide range of issues pertaining to the establishment of security on the continent. It is disturbing to see that opposition to the views of Africans on the full lifting of sanctions has in our opinion recently become a trend. That has been the case with South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and for several years now, the Central African Republic. Why do countries that are so in favour of keeping sanctions regimes believe that they know the situation better than the African Union? What we see in that, particularly among Western States, is a desire to do everything possible to keep their hands on the levers of political influence, using the Security Council sanctions mechanisms that are critical to international cooperation for their own opportunistic purposes. That is not a constructive approach, including for ensuring effective sanctions regimes. Our Western colleagues’ arrogant attitude to Africans goes hand in hand with their efforts to cast a shadow over Russian-African cooperation and besmirch the efforts of the Russian experts who have been assisting a number of African Governments in stabilizing the situation in their countries and training their security forces. That is real assistance on the ground, not the advice and moralizing that we see from other continents. We have noted the declarations from a number of Western capitals claiming that Russia’s policies in Africa are not to Africa’s benefit or that our actions are malign, in an obvious and unconvincing attempt to pit African countries against Russia. The Africans themselves have an answer to that. The Governments of the Central African Republic and other States welcome Russian assistance, seek to develop equal and mutually respectful relations with us and value our historical ties. It is obvious that the Security Council should revisit its approach to the situation in the Central African Republic. In our view, the resolution adopted today does not respond fully to the task of stabilizing the situation there. We have all seen that the situation on the ground has substantially changed since 2013, when the United Nations sanctions regime was introduced. In that regard, the switch to a notification regime is a meaningful but overdue step. We believe that an adequate measure, commensurate with the current state of affairs in the Central African Republic, would be a Security Council decision to abolish any sanctions on the efforts of a sovereign State to ensure its national security.

I too would like to recognize the presence of the Foreign Minister of the Central African Republic in the Council today. We thank the penholder, France, in particular, and all delegations for going the extra mile to find a solution that was workable for all. In all such decisions, we believe that we should be guided by good and factual balance. On the one hand we should recognize and encourage progress where it is merited, but on the other we must also acknowledge continuing and even increasing concerns, not least about international humanitarian law and human rights. On previous occasions we have also commended progress and expressed concern about the situation in the Central African Republic. We believe that such a combined overall assessment is what should lead to a potential and gradual decrease in restrictions, in line with what we hope will be further progress. We firmly believe that the best way forward is an inclusive political dialogue among all parties with the continued support of the region and the international community. In that regard, we appreciate the references to the road map of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, which we also view as an important indicator, alongside benchmarks for assessing further and much-needed progress. Lastly, as this is the final meeting of the Security Council for the month of July, I would also like to congratulate Brazil on a busy and successful presidency.

I thank Foreign Minister Sylvie Baipo Temon for her presence in the Chamber today. At the outset, I would like to express our appreciation to the penholder, France, for all the efforts to provide us with a comprehensive resolution. We recognize that the task was significant and challenging, as the difficult negotiations showed. Resolution 2648 (2022) is nevertheless a product of compromise, designed to bridge divergent opinions constructively on a very sensitive issue. Albania supported today’s resolution because we believe it includes substantial steps that can potentially pave the way for a more secure Central African Republic. I will highlight only one of them, which is how the resolution handles the request for lifting arms-delivery notifications. We believe that is the closest to a balanced approach, and we thank all States for their constructive suggestions in that regard. Albania recognizes the progress made by the Central African Republic in meeting its benchmarks, as well as the challenges remaining on the ground, and the resolution does the same. Its final formula keeps the focus on the need to improve the ability of the Central African Republic to safeguard its internal security, but also to further improve its compliance with its benchmarks. That is why the resolution foresees the possible review at any time of the appropriateness of the measures it contains, based on how the security situation in the country evolves and on the progress achieved. Albania is committed to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Central African Republic and reaffirms its willingness to support future adjustments as needed, reflecting the aspirations of the Central African Republic and documented progress on the ground.

I would like to start by thanking France, as penholder, for its tireless efforts to achieve consensus. We have been clear throughout the negotiations that in our view the arms embargo remains an important tool for supporting the maintenance of peace and stability in the Central African Republic. We remain convinced that the further proliferation of arms, both within the country and the wider region, would have a destabilizing effect. We are seriously concerned about the continuing allegations that atrocities are being committed against civilians, not just by armed groups but by Government forces and their security partners. It is therefore crucial that the notification process set out in resolution 2648 (2022) be implemented in a timely and thorough way to maximize transparency. We will continue to follow that closely through the Committee established pursuant to resolution 2127 (2013) concerning the Central African Republic.

I would like to begin by recognizing the presence of the Foreign Minister of the Central African Republic at today’s meeting. We welcome the adoption of resolution 2648 (2022). We also welcome the progress made on the implementation of the key benchmarks. However, we share the Secretary-General’s view that further progress is required on the national disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and repatriation programme and on effective weapons and ammunition management. We encourage the Central African Republic to make further efforts to meet the objectives set out in the resolution. There are ongoing allegations of violations and abuses against civilians by the national security forces and other security personnel, along with those committed by armed groups in the Central African Republic. Given that extremely worrying context, improving arms control is particularly important. We are especially concerned about the findings outlined in two reports released this week by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, which highlight very disturbing events that took place in recent months in the Central African Republic. We urge the Government to implement the recommendations made in those reports and put in place effective concrete measures to protect civilians and prevent future human rights violations and abuses. In conclusion, I would like to express our deep and sincere appreciation to France as the penholder on this file for its unstinting efforts to secure agreement on this important resolution.

At the outset, I would like to welcome Her Excellency Ms. Sylvie Baipo Temon, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Central African Republic, to today’s meeting. I would also like to recognize France and other members of the Council for their efforts and commitment during the negotiations. Resolution 2648 (2022), which we have just adopted, is the result of intense discussions and shows us that it is possible to reach a compromise in the Council. It constitutes a very important initial step forward and a great accomplishment for the people of the Central African Republic. The arms embargo will now be replaced by a notification regime. Nevertheless, the notification regime proposed by the resolution does not take into account the recommendations of the African Union Peace and Security Council, in particular that of 25 July, which asked that the arms embargo be lifted in order to enable the Central African Republic’s national defence and security forces to fully carry out their constitutional mandate to protect their country and its citizens. In that connection, it appealed to the three African members of the Security Council to support the request of the Central African Republic with regard to the arms embargo. The African Union’s recommendations are also supported by the 25 July communiqué of the Economic Community of Central African States and a decision of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region. The fact is that the backdrop in 2013, when the sanctions regime was established by the Security Council, was very different from the circumstances that pertain today. We now have a Government democratically elected through elections that were held twice in a stable environment, and a social, economic and political situation that has the potential to revive the Central African Republic. Why, then, should the Council continue to restrain the operational capacities of a democratically elected Government? How can we ignore the appeals of the people of the Central African Republic, who are asking only to live in peace? We all know only too well that there can be no lasting peace in the country or any willingness to negotiate among the armed groups if the situation on the ground is to their advantage. Gabon stands in solidarity with the people of the Central African Republic.

Your delegation has conducted the affairs of the Security Council professionally this month, Sir, and I would like to congratulate you on a successful presidency. I would also like to acknowledge and recognize the presence of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Central African Republic. I want to begin by thanking the delegation of France, the penholder on the Central African Republic sanctions resolution, for its brilliant efforts to forge consensus on resolution 2648 (2022), which we have just adopted. We are particularly grateful for all the penholder’s efforts in trying to accommodate the input of delegations for a responsible release of the levers on the arms embargo against the Central African Republic in a way that does not have an adverse impact on the stability of the country and its neighbours in the region. We note that the present resolution represents the best possible outcome given the prevailing circumstances, and we urge the Council to lend its continued support to the efforts being made by the Central African Republic, in collaboration with the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic and international partners, to succeed in attaining the benchmarks established by the Council. We encourage the Central African Republic to vigorously pursue its much-needed security-sector reforms, as well as to further develop enhanced management practices that can prevent weapons and ammunition from falling into the hands of unauthorized armed groups. In that regard, we encourage the Central African Republic’s improvement of its joint border- management procedures with neighbouring States to control the listed flow of small arms and light weapons, and ask that the national body for arms and light weapons strengthen its operations. We also urge the Central African Republic to sustain its implementation of the disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and repatriation programme with the support of its partners. In conclusion, I want to express Ghana’s firm encouragement of the Central African Republic authorities in ensuring its implementation of measures to protect the country’s civilian populations without discrimination and in a manner that facilitates national cohesion and respect for the rights of all citizens.

At the outset, I would like to thank France for its efforts in facilitating the consultations process and the other members of the Council for their participation. I also want to thank Her Excellency Ms. Sylvie Baipo Temon, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Central African Republic, for her valuable briefing. The United Arab Emirates approached the negotiations on resolution 2648 (2022), which we have just adopted, in a constructive and collaborative spirit. We carefully considered all Council members’ views and those of the relevant regional organizations, along with the demands of the Central African Republic concerning the sanctions regime imposed on it. Throughout the process, we have seen key aspects of the resolution evolve, including the arms embargo. In that context, the United Arab Emirates stresses its support to the Central African Republic on its path to peace and stability, which is vitally important to the Council, particularly given the ongoing challenges the country is facing. It is therefore important to find ways to support the Central African Republic’s commitment to reform, including in the security sector, as it builds on positive developments already achieved or that will be achieved in the context of the implementation process of the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic through the Luanda road map. We are cognizant that this issue is first and foremost an African one that relies mainly on African voices, and we believe the Council should have found a way to more effectively incorporate African views. However, mindful of the complexity and importance of the issues at hand, the United Arab Emirates voted in favour of the resolution. In conclusion, I want to reiterate the United Arab Emirates’ commitment to continuing to work with the Government of the Central African Republic, our partners in the region and the broader international community to support the people of the Central African Republic on the path to peace and stability. Lastly, I would like to thank Brazil for its successful presidency of the Council for this month and to wish China every success in its presidency in August.

I thank you and your delegation for your leadership of the Council this month, Sir. We also welcome the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Central African Republic to today’s meeting. We support and welcome the extension of the mandate of the Panel of Experts on the Central African Republic, as well as the renewal of the travel ban and measures for the freezing of assets for a further 12 months. We thank France for its efforts to get us over the finish line in that regard. Our goal is to promote peace and stability in the Central African Republic and across the region, and we believe that the measures in resolution 2648 (2022), adopted today, aim to do just that. Specifically, today’s action helps to ensure the continuation of the Panel’s reporting, which spotlights key issues for the Government and the people of the Central African Republic and for the Council. On the arms embargo, the region is awash with guns, and it is time to halt that unfettered flow. If effectively implemented, the arms embargo will help to silence the guns. Effective implementation in that case means a notification requirement, which is critical to transparency. It also means, as the resolution calls for, that the Central African authorities must continue improving physical protection and accountability when it comes to weapons. Although the resolution calls for a relaxation of the arms embargo, we must therefore ensure that it does not endanger Central Africans, other civilians, United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic personnel, other United Nations staff or humanitarian workers. The truth is that military actions alone will not resolve the Central African Republic’s crises. Good governance, credible security-sector reform, transparent disarmament and reintegration, national dialogue and justice and accountability are the most important steps towards peace. To that end, we appreciate the Government’s efforts to address those issues through the revitalization of the country’s 2019 Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic and its dedication to the Luanda road map. The United States is committed to the people of the Central African Republic and to finding and forging a durable peace. We will continue to work closely with the country’s Government, our fellow Council members and all stakeholders to facilitate true security and prosperity for the country and the region.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Brazil. My delegation welcomes the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Central African Republic, Her Excellency Ms. Sylvie Baipo Temon, to this meeting. The renewal of the Central African Republic sanctions regime in resolution 2648 (2022), just adopted by the Council, keeps in place important mechanisms, such as the system of benchmarks and the work of the Panel of Experts, to help guide the country towards stabilization and durable peace. It also addresses — though only partially — the assessments and claims of the Central African authorities, the African Union and other regional organizations, whose views are equally important. Their voices can indeed make a meaningful contribution to the process, not only because of their legitimacy, but also primarily because they offer us a perspective that considers the peace and security situation in the Central African Republic on its own merits. That approach should be at the core of our work, or the Council runs the risk of new failures in the fulfilment of its mandate whenever it allows political considerations other than those pertaining to the context on the ground to interfere. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. The Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Central African Republic has asked to make a further statement. I now give her the floor.

I thank you, Sir, for giving me the floor once again. I delivered my initial remarks assuming I would be given the chance to speak again at the end of the meeting, as is often the case, so I am grateful to you for affording me that opportunity. I would like to start by once again thanking the members of the Security Council and assuring them that the Central African Republic has taken note of their various recommendations. I would also like to reiterate my country’s steadfast determination to continue in our efforts. That is because it is the primary responsibility of the Central African authorities to ensure the territorial integrity of our country and the protection of our populations, which we have been striving to do for several years, particularly since President Touadera was elected. On behalf of the Central African Republic, I have listened to the various recommendations and concerns expressed by Council members, and I would ask them to bear in mind the efforts that the Central African Republic has been making in every area pertaining to human rights. In that connection, President Touadera has been striving to establish mechanisms at the ministry level dedicated to upholding human rights. I would like to draw attention to the fact that reports have been drafted concerning the call for respect for human rights and demanding that no effort to be spared by all Central African authorities to that end. It is also important to recall that within the context of the information in the reports, impartiality must be maintained, given that they did not mention several cases of human rights violations. In that connection, on 1 November 2021, we saw a contingent from the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) violate not just the sovereignty of the Central African Republic but the terms of the agreement between MINUSCA and the Central African Government, owing to its presence barely 100 metres from the President’s residence, something that would not normally be accepted in other States. I would like to remind the Council that the mandate of the Gabonese MINUSCA contingent was cut short based on misleading information, and subsequent investigations have shown that the related accusations were false. I also want to point out that the attack in Boyo, which has been mentioned here before, was perpetrated by armed groups, which called into question the capacity for self-defence of the Central African Republic. In December 2021, also in Boyo, MINUSCA drove out 200 rebels who were occupying the area and disrupting the peaceful life of the community. And on 30 May 2021, following the unfortunate incident that took place on the border with Chad, an international investigation was requested. It was a struggle to establish that investigation, owing to the false claims of various media campaigns. Despite those difficulties, the Central African Republic was able to prove that the incident took place on its soil. In addition, I should inform the Council that four legionnaires were recently arrested after claiming to be MINUSCA personnel. They were found to be in the possession of illegal weapons and did not reside on the MINUSCA premises. All of that information should be taken into consideration. We are aware that there are violations taking place because we know that the Central African Republic is embroiled in a conflict situation. We therefore urge the Security Council to spare no effort and to encourage the imposition of sanctions on the armed groups that are rife in the Central African Republic, as we must work together to cut off the sources that fuel them. If we want to avoid the negative consequences, including a catastrophic humanitarian situation, resulting from the human rights violations taking place on Central African Republic territory, it is essential to break with the forces of evil and the true cause of all the issues and incidents that have brought us together today, which is the presence of rebel forces on our territory. I would like to conclude with something that I neglected to mention earlier, which is to congratulate you, Sir, on your presidency of the Security Council. We have closely followed that the work the Brazilian presidency has done this month and commend you for it. We also want to reiterate our gratitude for all the efforts and commitment of Council members on an issue that is so significant for the Central African Republic. We congratulate France in particular for its tireless work with the other Council members and for ensuring that the voice of the Central African Republic was heard, which enabled the adoption of resolution 2648 (2022) today, even if it does not fully respond to the needs and expectations of the Central African Republic. We therefore encourage the Security Council to continue on this path and to listen to and heed the concerns of the Central African Republic and the country’s 5 million women and men. Since 2013, our people have endured and suffered the antics and ravages wrought by the armed groups that have continued to attack from time to time because the Government forces have been stripped of their equipment. Thanks to their advances in that regard, we have been able to send a significant message to those armed groups. The Central African Republic invites the Council to continue its path in support of the efforts of our country and the subregion, which is also fully engaged and has always stood by the side of the Central African Republic, as has the African Union. I should recall that the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic is an initiative born under the auspices of the African Union and pursued in good faith by the subregion in line with the principle of subsidiarity. I would therefore like to thank all stakeholders in the subregion and across the continent for supporting us in the struggle against the armed groups, first in attaining a degree of stability in the Central African Republic, but also in our struggle to make our voice heard and to finally allow the Government to continue unhindered in its efforts to offer its people a minimum of peace and tranquillity.

There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. Before adjourning the meeting, as this is the last scheduled meeting of the Council for the month of July, I would like to express the sincere appreciation of the delegation of Brazil to the members of the Council and the Secretariat of the Council for all the support they have given us. It has indeed been a busy month, and one in which we rallied to consensus on several important issues within our purview. We could not have done it alone or without the hard work, support and positive contributions of every delegation and the representatives of the Secretariat, including the conference-service officers, interpreters, translators, verbatim reporters and security staff. As we end our presidency, I know I speak on behalf of the entire Council in wishing the delegation of China good luck for the month of August.