During the briefing for ambassadors of the UN Security Council, Valentine Rugwabiza, the Special Representative for the Central African Republic (CAR), brought up the incident that occurred on January 15th. This incident involved an explosion that targeted a patrol from the mission, resulting in the death of one peacekeeper and injuries to five others.

“Explosive ordinance devices (EODs) and light weapons are not only a threat to the population and peacekeepers but equally the most serious constraint to the delivery of humanitarian assistance in the western region where 50 per cent of the CAR population live,” she said.

The Security Council was urged to take swift and comprehensive action to address the threat, including improving awareness of the situation, promoting cooperation between borders, and providing proper training for personnel and police before sending them out.

She emphasized the importance of taking all necessary measures to stop the dissemination of these deadly weapons to other areas in the CAR.

The road network is almost non-existent.

During her presentation, Ms. Rugwabiza emphasized the inadequate road infrastructure in CAR, which exacerbates the security and humanitarian issues.

Around three percent of the road system in CAR is paved, meaning that the majority of the transportation infrastructure is unable to be used during the eight-month rainy season due to its dirt composition.

“In various regions of the country, several villages are inaccessible and largely isolated throughout the year.” She stated that this presents a significant obstacle to the movement of MINUSCA’s troops and the national security forces, and consequently, to the government’s authority over its territory.

The issues are worsened by the limited capacity for MINUSCA to airlift, which puts emergency operations and the protection of civilians at risk.

She appealed to the Council and other members of the UN to supply the mission with adequate transportation and logistical resources to enhance their assistance to the Government and security forces in safeguarding civilians and increasing their presence throughout the nation.

Security sector reform

Ms. Rugwabiza described the mission’s efforts alongside the UN Country Team in CAR to restore and rebuild administrative structures within the nation.

She stated that MINUSCA plans to maintain close cooperation and conduct joint patrols with the CAR security forces, specifically in border regions and areas of conflict.

She emphasized the pressing necessity for security sector reform and urged United Nations Member States and partners to assist the Central African Republic in its endeavor to establish a proficient national army and internal security forces.

She concluded that there is no other option to ensure long-term security for the people of CAR and maintain sovereignty over its land.

Mission background

Established in 2014, MINUSCA was created with the goal of promoting stability in a country that has been plagued by sectarian violence.

MINUSCA’s goal is to promote peace and stability in the region by protecting civilians, aiding with humanitarian efforts, and assisting in the political process, despite ongoing difficulties.

The authorized personnel for the mission consists of 16,363 uniformed individuals and 1,522 civilian personnel.

“News from the United Nations”