Central African Republic
Expected Council Action
In October, the Security Council will hold a briefing and consultations on the Secretary-General’s latest report on the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). Special Representative for the Central African Republic (CAR) and Head of MINUSCA Valentine Rugwabiza is expected to brief.
Key Recent Developments
On 26 June, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix briefed the Council on the situation in the CAR, highlighting the progress in the peace process; the ongoing preparations to organise general elections before the end of the year; the security, human rights, and humanitarian situations in the country; and efforts to extend state authority. (For more information, see our 25 June What’s in Blue story.)
The CAR is scheduled to hold presidential and parliamentary elections on 28 December. These elections pose significant financial, logistical, and security challenges for a country still emerging from conflict and facing fragile security conditions. In July, President Faustin Archange Touadéra announced his intention to seek a third term during a national convention of his party, the United Hearts Movement (MCU), in the capital, Bangui. This declaration followed a 2023 constitutional referendum that removed presidential term limits. His decision has drawn criticism from opposition parties and civil society organisations, which accuse him of attempting to consolidate power. They have also raised concerns about the shrinking political space and the lack of inclusivity in the electoral process.
In parallel, the CAR is expected to hold long-overdue local elections, which have been repeatedly postponed due to financial constraints and the need to update the voter registration rolls. MINUSCA is supporting the CAR authorities in organising these elections, which will be held for the first time in nearly four decades.
On 19 September, the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) convened to discuss the situation in the CAR in light of ongoing preparations for the elections scheduled for 28 December. The AUPSC called for enhanced international support, increased resource mobilisation, stronger regional coordination, and greater private sector investment to ensure the successful organisation of elections in the CAR. It also encouraged the CAR government to continue fostering conditions conducive to holding credible and inclusive elections.
The security situation in CAR remains volatile. In the southeast, violence carried out by the Azande Ani Kpi Gbe—a militia group accused of serious human rights violations—has raised concerns with reports of targeted attacks against minority communities. In the northeast, along the border with Sudan, the CAR continues to face incursions by armed groups. The spillover effects of the ongoing conflict in neighbouring Sudan have further exacerbated the country’s already fragile security environment.
In April, Touadéra engaged armed opposition groups in dialogue, dispatching a delegation to N’Djamena to meet with opposition leaders based in Chad. Touadéra’s efforts seem intended to advance the peace process and foster conditions conducive to holding general elections. The discussions in N’Djamena—facilitated by Chadian authorities—resulted in commitments from the leaders of Retour, Réclamation et Réhabilitation (3R) and Unité pour la Paix en Centrafrique (UPC) to cease hostilities and rejoin the 2019 Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic (APPR-RCA). In July, Chad announced that the CAR government and these two armed groups had reached a peace agreement.
Key Issues and Options
The upcoming local and national elections in the CAR are expected to be a key focus for Security Council members in October. Members are likely to closely monitor the state of electoral preparations. They may wish to issue a press statement reiterating their call for the CAR authorities to ensure the necessary conditions for free, transparent, and inclusive elections, particularly by opening civic space and enabling the full participation of all sections of society, including women and youth.
Council members remain concerned about the fragile security situation in the CAR, particularly the armed incursions along the border with Sudan. They may call on signatories to remain committed to implementing the peace agreement signed in N’Djamena. They are also likely to reiterate their call for non-signatory armed groups to the APPR-RCA to lay down their arms and engage in the political process through dialogue.
In light of recent attacks against peacekeepers, the safety and security of UN personnel have become a critical concern for several Council members. A number of members may stress the importance of accountability for crimes committed against peacekeepers and emphasise the need to equip MINUSCA with adequate air support, as well as intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities to enhance force protection.
The humanitarian and human rights situation in the CAR remains a serious concern, with ongoing violations and abuses against civilians, including women and children. The lack of adequate resources facing the Special Criminal Court (SCC), which hampers its ability to effectively deliver justice and ensure accountability, is a related issue. The SCC is a hybrid court composed of national and international judges, operational since 2018, and mandated to investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate the most serious crimes committed in the CAR. The Informal Coordinator of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) within the Council (Republic of Korea) could collaborate with the PBC CAR Configuration to organise an informal meeting aimed at shining a spotlight on the financing issue and mobilising support for the SCC.
As Council members prepare for the renewal of MINUSCA’s mandate in November, a key issue will be how to sustain the progress achieved in the CAR—including the successful holding of peaceful elections in December—with the continued support of the mission. However, the UN’s ongoing liquidity crisis poses a significant challenge, constraining MINUSCA’s operational capacity. In this context, Council members may wish to hold an informal discussion on measures to mitigate the impact of these financial constraints.
Council Dynamics
Compared to other UN peacekeeping operations facing significant challenges, MINUSCA is generally regarded as a relative success. However, concerns have emerged regarding the upcoming mandate renewal in November, particularly in the context of the UN’s ongoing liquidity crisis. Some Council members may advocate for the mission to begin a gradual drawdown, citing the financial constraints facing the mission and the recent progress in the peace process.
Last year, following MINUSCA’s 2024 strategic review, China called on the mission to adopt a transition mindset. It encouraged MINUSCA to begin discussions with the CAR authorities on a potential transition plan ahead of 2026, to ensure that the mission would be prepared for a possible drawdown, should conditions permit or a formal request be made. However, this proposal was not accepted during negotiations, apparently because the CAR government did not want the Council to consider the recommendations contained in the review.
Council dynamics around the upcoming mandate renewal may be complicated by the US position on funding peacekeeping operations. On 29 August, U.S. President Donald Trump approved a “pocket rescission” package, cancelling $5 billion in foreign aid and funding to international organisations—including approximately $800 million in contributions to UN peacekeeping. The package claims that “UN peacekeeping has been fraught with waste and abuse,” citing, among other issues, allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse in missions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the CAR. It also asserts that “the Central African Republic mission has become fully aligned with Russia, which continues to extract the country’s natural resources”.
At the Council’s June briefing, the US expressed particular concern over the CAR government’s fuel import regulations, which it argued are restricting MINUSCA’s operations. The US delegation noted that the regulations compel the mission to rely on a government-designated monopoly importer and pay inflated fuel prices, thereby undermining its ability to carry out critical tasks. This issue is expected to colour the upcoming mandate renewal negotiations in November.
France is the penholder on the CAR, and Ambassador Amar Bendjama (Algeria) chairs the 2745 CAR Sanctions Committee.
| Security Council Resolution | |
| 14 November 2024S/RES/2759 | This resolution renewed MINUSCA’s mandate for one year until 15 November 2025. |
| Security Council Meeting Record | |
| 26 June 2025S/PV.9946 | This a meeting was on the situation in the CAR. |
