Statement by the President of the Security Council

           At the 7812th meeting of the Security Council, held on 16 November 2016, in connection with the Council’s consideration of the item entitled “The situation in the Central African Republic”, the President of the Security Council made the following statement on behalf of the Council:

           “The Security Council welcomes the steps taken recently on the Central African Republic (CAR) peace process with the signing of the National Strategy on Disarmament, Demobilization, Reintegration and Repatriation (DDRR), the National Security Policy, the Internal Security Forces Development plan, and the National Reconciliation Strategy, and calls for their swift implementation.

           “The Security Council acknowledges the achievement of significant post‑transition milestones, namely the peaceful and transparent election of President Faustin-Archange Touadera, the swift formation of a new government and the establishment of the National Assembly.

           “The Security Council renews its support to President Touadera and welcomes his significant role to stabilize the country and enable long-term development, with the support of regional and international partners, in particular MINUSCA.

           “The Security Council emphasizes that the only viable way forward towards the consolidation of peace, recovery and stability, is that of a political commitment from all parties to address the root causes of the conflict, including by addressing marginalization and local grievances of all the components of society over the whole territory of the CAR. In this regard, the Security Council recalls the inclusive and comprehensive manner in which the Bangui Forum, and the preparatory grass-roots consultations, were held in 2015, and encourages the Central African authorities to demonstrate the same spirit of inclusiveness, including towards women, youth, IDPs and refugees.

           “The Security Council recognizes that the continued presence of armed groups represents the country’s most immediate impediment to stability and recovery. It encourages the CAR authorities to urgently address this situation through a comprehensive approach, building on the principles and outcomes of the Bangui Forum, including by deepening and accelerating the disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and repatriation of armed groups (DDRR) and the dialogue with their representatives, as well as urgently implementing critical reform programmes, in particular the reform of the Security Sector (SSR) and the strengthening of the fight against impunity through the upholding of national accountability mechanisms, including the regular courts and the Special Criminal Court (SCC).

           “The Security Council expresses its deep concern about the continued fragility in CAR, and strongly condemns the recent upsurge of violence and instability in the Central African Republic (CAR), in particular in Kaga Bandoro, Bambari, Dekoa and Bangui, during which dozens of civilians were killed and wounded, and national gendarmes were killed.

           “The Security Council also strongly condemns the recent attacks against MINUSCA-escorted convoys, as well as any attacks against civilians, intercommunal violence, targeted violence against women and children, lootings of humanitarian premises, and attacks against United Nations peacekeepers and humanitarian personnel.

           “The Security Council recalls the State’s primary responsibility to protect all populations in the CAR in particular from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.

           “The Security Council commends the contribution made by the French Sangaris forces in providing operational support to MINUSCA, and whose mission was completed on 31 October 2016.

           “The Security Council commends Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) Parfait Onanga-Anyanga and MINUSCA’s teams and personnel. The Security Council renews its call upon the Secretary-General, in collaboration with MINUSCA’s TCCs/PCCs, to take all possible steps to maximize MINUSCA’s operational capacity and ability to discharge its mandate, with a specific focus on priority areas, over the entire territory of the CAR, and calls on MINUSCA to maintain a robust posture, in accordance with its mandate.

           “The Security Council reiterates its call on all Central Africans to refrain from engaging in or providing support for acts that undermine the peace, stability or security of the CAR, and recalls that engaging in such acts or providing support for such acts, including acts that threaten or impede the stabilization and reconciliation process or that fuel violence, constitutes a designation criteria for sanctions.

           “The Security Council emphasizes the crucial role of the regional States, along with regional and subregional organizations, in the implementation of the sanctions regime in all its aspects, including in particular in preventing violations of the arms embargo and of the travel ban for individuals under UNSC sanctions.

           “The Security Council stresses the need to closely monitor developments in the CAR, as well as the need for it to be regularly updated regarding the situation there, including through timely updates from, and regular interaction with, the Secretariat, especially on key issues pertaining to developments in the situation and the implementation of MINUSCA’s mandate.

           “The Security Council welcomes the continued support from the AU and the region which remains critical for the promotion of lasting peace and stability in the CAR, and welcomes the establishment of the International Support Group for the CAR (ISG-CAR) to assist in mobilizing international support for post-conflict reconstruction and development, as well as peacebuilding efforts in the CAR. In this context, the Council further stresses the valuable role of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) in bringing strategic advice and fostering a more coherent, coordinated and integrated approach in support of CAR’s long-term peacebuilding needs with a view to preventing relapse into conflict.

           “The Security Council welcomes the recent visit of the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations to the CAR ahead of the upcoming international conference in Brussels (17 November 2016) and emphasizes the significant role that this conference will play to express the firm political support of the international community and to secure essential resources to enable the country to implement key recovery and stabilization priorities during the next three to five years. It strongly encourages contributions that will support efforts to meet the most basic humanitarian needs of the country as well as to stabilize the CAR and rebuild its institutions, including through DDRR and SSR programmes, fight against impunity, and socioeconomic development projects, in line with the country’s peacebuilding priorities as outlined in the CAR’s national strategy for recovery and peace consolidation.”