Central African Republic
Expected Council Action
In July, the Security Council is expected to vote to extend the 2745 sanctions regime, which expires at the end of the month, and renew the mandate of the Panel of Experts supporting the 2745 Sanctions Committee, which expires on 31 August.
Key Recent Developments
On 26 June, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix briefed the Security Council on recent political and security developments, as well as the efforts by the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in CAR (MINUSCA) to implement its mandate based on the Secretary-General’s latest report on MINUSCA circulated to Council members on 13 June (S/2025/383). (For more information, see our 25 June What’s in Blue story.)
The domestic political scene in the CAR has been dominated by the discussion of local and national elections expected to be held this year. MINUSCA is supporting the CAR authorities in organising local elections, which have been repeatedly postponed. Although these elections were scheduled to be held in August, the indications are that they might be further delayed due to a funding shortfall and issues related to voter registration. According to the Secretary-General’s latest report, the National Electoral Authority has revised the electoral budget from $19 million to $21.8 million—$12.4 million of which is managed by UNDP and $9.4 million by the National Electoral Authority. The report mentions that there is a $9 million funding gap.
Despite logistical and security constraints, the National Electoral Authority conducted voter registration in 11 of the 20 prefectures in the country in November and December 2024 and in the remaining nine prefectures in March. According to the Secretary-General’s report, the National Electoral Authority addressed omissions of voters’ names and other technical anomalies in May. Local elections will be held in the CAR for the first time in four decades; however, opposition and civil society groups have been calling for a boycott, citing concerns over the fairness and inclusivity of the process.
Following the 2023 constitutional referendum in the CAR, which removed presidential term limits, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra is widely expected to seek a third term, with the presidential majority (the ruling party and other parties that support Touadéra) and affiliated youth groups actively encouraging his candidacy. However, opposition parties have pushed back against this prospect, and in early April, they organised a protest in Bangui, the capital city, in which nearly 5,000 people participated. The Republican Bloc for the Defense of the Constitution (BRDC), a coalition of opposition parties, has called for dialogue with the President. While President Touadéra has agreed to a dialogue process led by his government—without his direct involvement—the BRDC has insisted on direct engagement with the President and requested that an African mediator facilitate the talks. This proposal was rejected by the government.
The security situation in the CAR remains volatile, particularly in the western and eastern parts of the country. Competition over natural resources and control of key road corridors continues to fuel instability. Civilians are disproportionately affected by the ongoing violence, with reported killings, increased sexual violence, kidnappings, forced displacement, and extortion. The spillover effects of the conflict in neighbouring Sudan are an additional complication to the security landscape in the CAR. Touadéra reportedly sent a delegation led by the Director of the Central African Intelligence Services to Port Sudan in May to engage with the leadership of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).
Touadéra has also sent a delegation to N’Djamena to meet with opposition leaders based in Chad in April. This appears to be part of an effort to revive the Luanda Roadmap, adopted in December 2021 by the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) in support of the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic (APPR). According to the latest Secretary-General’s report, following discussions in N’Djamena facilitated by Chadian authorities in April, the leaders of the Retour, réclamation et réhabilitation (3R) and the Unité pour la paix en Centrafrique (UPC) had committed to cease hostilities and rejoin the APPR.
Sanctions-Related Developments
On 11 June, the 2475 Sanctions Committee met to consider the final report and recommendations of the Panel of Experts. The report apparently outlines the fragile security situation in the CAR, including the cross-border movement of armed groups. It also highlights ongoing tensions between farmers and herders along the borders with Cameroon and Chad. In addition, it seems that the report provides updates on the illegal exploitation of natural resources by armed groups and recent attacks against peacekeepers. At the time of writing, Council members were reviewing the Panel’s recommendations.
Key Issues and Options
The most immediate issue for Council members in July is the renewal of the 2745 sanctions regime. Last year, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2745, lifting the arms embargo on the CAR government, while extending it on armed groups and associated individuals. The resolution also extended and strengthened other targeted sanctions measures against these groups and individuals. The negotiations in July are not expected to be contentious, and a possible option for Council members would be to renew the sanctions regime and the mandate of the Panel of Experts for another twelve months with no changes.
With respect to the situation in the CAR, the upcoming local and national elections are a key issue for the Council. Members could consider issuing a press statement reiterating their call for the CAR authorities to create the necessary conditions for the holding of free, transparent and inclusive elections by opening up civic space for the participation of all sections of society, including women and youth.
Council members also remain concerned about the security situation in the CAR and its toll on the civilian population. At the meeting in July, they may welcome the decision by the 3R and the UPC to cease hostilities and reiterate their call on other armed groups to lay down their arms and join the political process through dialogue.
The humanitarian and human rights situation in the CAR remains a serious concern, marked by ongoing violations and abuses against civilians, including women and children. At the time of writing, Council members were awaiting the annual report on the human rights situation in the CAR, prepared by the Human Rights Division of MINUSCA, which is expected to be released in June.
Another major challenge facing MINUSCA is the lack of adequate resources to effectively implement its mandated tasks. This issue reflects a broader trend affecting all UN peace operations, driven by the organisation’s ongoing liquidity crisis. This is a result of delays in the payment of assessed contributions by member states. According to the Secretary-General’s latest report, unpaid contributions to the Special Account for MINUSCA amounted to $410.7 million as of 1 June. In response, the UN is apparently developing contingency plans to address the situation.
Council and Wider Dynamics
The Council lifted the arms embargo against the CAR government last year following strong lobbying by the CAR authorities. Its appeal to the Security Council was backed by the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), as well as the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC). Its position was also supported by China, Russia and the A3 Plus grouping (then Algeria, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, and Guyana).
Other Council members recognised that maintaining the embargo on the CAR government was untenable given its persistent calls for its complete lifting. France, the penholder on the CAR, supported lifting the embargo against the backdrop of its ongoing rapprochement with the CAR.
Council members continue to express concern over the illicit flow of arms, explosives, and combatants across CAR’s porous borders—a situation further exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in neighbouring Sudan. As a result, Council members may continue to support maintaining sanctions measures against armed groups and associated individuals.
| Security Council Resolutions | |
| 30 July 2024S/RES/2745 | This lifted the arms embargo on the CAR and renewing until 31 August 2025 the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the 2127 CAR Sanctions Committee (which will henceforth be known as the Panel of Experts pursuant to resolution 2745). The resolution also extended until 31 July 2025, and strengthened, all other targeted sanctions measures against armed groups and associated individuals. |
