The United Nations (UN) Security Council on Monday extended the mission in the Central African Republic (Minusca), of which Portugal is a part, by one year until November 15, 2023.
The draft resolution, extending the mandate of the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) for a period of one year within the current ceiling of 14,400 military personnel and 3,020 police officers, received 12 votes in favor and three abstentions. including China and Russia, countries that have abstained from voting in the past.
According to the Ministry of Defense, Portugal has committed 204 soldiers and 45 assets to this mission.
The now-approved blueprint – prepared by France – maintains the mission’s priority tasks, such as protecting civilians, supporting the peace process and the February 6, 2019 political agreement on peace and reconciliation, and facilitating immediate, full delivery , safe and unimpeded humanitarian aid. assistance.
Despite the approval, negotiations were difficult, with Russia and three African countries (Gabon, Ghana and Kenya) objecting to the language used in the document.
In a letter sent to the Security Council on November 5, Central African Republic (CAR) Foreign Minister Sylvie Temon regretted that the issues and concerns raised by her country were not reflected in the draft text distributed throughout France.
Among the issues raised by the minister in her letter was the phrase “all parties to the conflict” in the draft resolution, which “equated rebels with legitimately elected officials,” she argued.
On the other hand, other members of the Security Council pressed for the need to keep the sentence, arguing that all parties — including the Armed Forces of the Central African Republic and the Wagner Group, a Russian private security firm — were involved in human rights violations.
In this context, France has proposed a compromise wording referring to “all parties to the conflict, in particular armed groups”, which is reflected in the project approved today.
At the end of the vote, several countries welcomed Minusca’s renewal, at a time when the mission faces “significant challenges”, as stated by the United Kingdom.
“This mandate renewal comes in a difficult political and security context, and MINUSCA itself faces major challenges. But the mission continues to play a key role in helping to build long-term peace in the Central African Republic,” said British Ambassador James Kariuki , also expressing “deep concern about the restrictions on night flights imposed by the government”.
The UN has called on Bangui to lift bans on night flights, stressing that they are essential to the safety of ‘blue helmets’, humanitarian actors, civilians and people with humanitarian needs, a concern echoed in Security Council speeches from today. .
The UK maintains the position that the government of the Central African Republic remains primarily responsible for protecting all citizens against genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, and that this issue will remain a key factor in future conversations.” added James Kariuki.
“With this mandate, Minusca can continue to provide effective support to long-term stability in the country. It is now up to the government to deliver on its announced commitments: to protect civilians and human rights; to take definitive steps regarding the peace agreement; and to to defend the freedom of movement of Minusca”, concluded the British diplomat.
Source: DN
