CAR: France welcomes the adoption of UNSC resolution which reinforces MINUSCA [fr]

The Security Council has just adopted Resolution 2566, submitted by France, which reinforces the capacities of MINUSCA by nearly 4,000 personnel, in response to the Secretary-General’s request.

This is excellent news in the context of the situation in the CAR since December, with attacks by a coalition led by former President François Bozizé, which have caused numerous victims and which the Security Council has strongly condemned.

The resolution gives MINUSCA the means to continue to fulfill its mandate to protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian access. It underlines the Security Council’s full support for the Mission’s courageous action, while seven peacekeepers lost their lives since December. I pay tribute to their action, as well as to the other men and women engaged with the United Nations for peace in the Central African Republic. Behind this figure of 3,690 personnel, the Security Council validates a plan to improve MINUSCA’s capabilities, in particular through the provision of specific equipment such as helicopters.

This resolution also recalls that the political process remains the only way out of the crisis. The Security Council calls for dialogue between the parties. I also welcome the mobilization of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) in this regard. We call on the Central African government and all political actors to engage in this dialogue and to organize the legislative elections scheduled for this Sunday in a peaceful manner, to allow Central Africans to exercise their right to vote in peace.

We also call for the resumption of the peace process. France is in favor of adopting sanctions against those who have tried to derail this process and who do not rally to the path of peace and dialogue.

This resolution calls on all parties to respect international humanitarian law, at a time when violations have never been greater. They have made CAR the most dangerous country in the world for humanitarian workers: 66 incidents involving humanitarian personnel took place in January, a grim record. This is unacceptable and must stop.

We also call for contributions to the UN humanitarian response plan, as the needs are enormous. The total number of displaced persons and refugees now exceeds 1.5 million people, almost a third of the Central African population.

This resolution is only the beginning: Member States must now provide the necessary contingents. France is fully committed to the security and stability of the Central African Republic, both bilaterally and in support of the multilateral response, in particular the UN and EU missions. We encourage our partners to contribute to the strengthening of MINUSCA: it is urgent.