By Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS – Head of the UN mission in Central African Republic Valentine Rugwabiza on Thursday briefed the Security Council on the recent attack on a UN patrol in the Central African Republic which resulted in the death of a Tunisian peacekeeper, underlined the constant dangers facing peacekeepers from armed groups there.
Valentine Rugwabiza condemned the incident early last week, called on Central African authorities to thoroughly investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice.
CAR is borders to South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the region larger than Switzerland has been a hotspot of conflict due to its strategic importance, intercommunal tensions and civil strife.
CAR has been fighting the conflict since 2012, as fighting between the mostly Christian anti-Balaka militia and the mainly Muslim Séléka rebel coalition left thousands dead and many more dependent on aid.
In 2013, armed groups seized the capital and then President François Bozizé was forced to flee. After a brief period of reduced violence in 2015, and elections held in 2016, fighting intensified again.
She noted that the peace talks got underway in early 2019 under the auspices of the African Initiative for Peace and Reconciliation in CAR, led by the African Union with UN support.
The deal was agreed in Khartoum, but formally signed in Bangui.
The local, legislative and presidential elections scheduled for 2025, Ms. Rugwabiza noted that the upcoming electoral cycle represents a key opportunity where “safe, transparent and inclusive elections” could “contribute towards addressing roots causes of recurring conflict in the CAR”.
Progress has been recorded in electoral preparations, with voter list revisions successfully conducted in 11 out of 20 prefectures, she said.
MINUSCA supported the process, ensuring that 98 percent of registration centers were operational, allow over 570,000 new voters to register.
The security challenges persist, and 58 voter registration centres remain closed.
Despite some improvements, instability persists in CAR, in border areas where armed groups exploit mining sites and transhumance corridors.
Ms. Rugwabiza noted that the ongoing conflict in Sudan has further complicated security dynamics, necessitating strengthened cross-border cooperation.
She highlighted the recent inauguration of CAR’s first multiservice border post in Bembéré, constructed with MINUSCA support, a milestone in border security efforts.
Ms. Rugwabiza said 6 years after the signing of the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation, nine of the 14 signatory armed groups have disbanded. However, some factions remain active, undermining peace efforts.
“There is an urgent need for increased political mobilisation, particularly from guarantors, namely the African Union and the Economic Community of Central African States to facilitate the return of those armed groups leaders and subsequent long-term disarmament,” Ms. Rugwabiza stressed.
She called on CAR authorities to accelerate the operationalization of the Truth, Justice, Reparation and Reconciliation Commission, emphasized the importance of transitional justice and accountability for victims.
Ms. Rugwabiza acknowledged recent progress, including the establishment of a military tribunal in Bouar and the security sector reform also remains central to CAR’s stabilization..
The recruitment of former self-defence group members outside regulatory frameworks risks reversing security gains,” she cautioned, urging proper oversight.
Human rights violations remain a pressing concern and while the recent passage of a national law to protect human rights defenders marks a positive step, she said
Ms. Rugwabiza called on the Government to take decisive action against impunity.
Portia Deya Abazene, President of the Federation of Women Entrepreneurs of CAR, addressed the Council members via videolink, highlighted the role of women in driving the country’s economic recovery.
She noted that despite legal frameworks guaranteeing equality, women in CAR represent only 15.5 percent of business owners in some sectors.
The organization has facilitated training for more than 2,700 women who received education in leadership, digital marketing and finance.
“The CAR cannot reach its full potential as long as more than 51 per cent of its population – I’m referring to women remain marginalized,” she said.
Ms. Rugwabiza emphasized that “the allocation of timely and adequate resources remains critical to consolidate security gains and translate them into concrete improvements in the lives of the Central African people.”
She stressed that with elections on the horizon and security threats persisting, MINUSCA’s role remains vital in supporting CAR’s path to stability.
Ms. Rugwabiza said without political and financial backing, the country’s hard-fought progress risks being reversed.
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