Central African Republic: Briefing and Consultations*
Tomorrow morning (25 February), the Security Council will hold an open briefing on the situation in the Central African Republic (CAR). Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the CAR and Head of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) Valentine Rugwabiza is expected to brief via videoconference (VTC) based on the Secretary-General’s latest report on the situation in the CAR and MINUSCA’s activities, which was circulated to Council members on 13 February and covers developments since 1 October 2025 (S/2026/71). The Chair of the CAR configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), Ambassador Omar Hilale (Morocco), is also scheduled to brief. The CAR is expected to participate in the meeting under rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure. Closed consultations are scheduled to follow the open briefing.
Tomorrow’s meeting is the first Council session on the CAR since the holding of combined local, legislative, and presidential elections in the country on 28 December 2025. Rugwabiza is likely to describe the support provided by MINUSCA in organising the elections, in line with its mandate. This support included logistical and technical assistance, such as the delivery of ballot papers and other electoral materials to polling stations across the country, as well as civic education and voter awareness campaigns. The mission also contributed to election security in coordination with the Central African Armed Forces (FACA) and the national police.
On 5 January, the National Elections Authority (ANE) announced the results of the presidential election, with Faustin-Archange Touadéra, the incumbent president, winning approximately 76 percent of the vote. He was widely expected to secure a third term following the controversial 2023 constitutional referendum that removed presidential term limits. The results were subsequently certified by the Constitutional Court on 19 January. According to the Secretary-General’s report, two other presidential candidates challenged the outcome, alleging electoral irregularities. The main opposition coalition, the Bloc Républicain pour la Défense de la Constitution du 30 mars 2016 (BRDC), which boycotted the electoral process, citing concerns about its credibility and fairness, also issued a 12 January statement making similar allegations and calling for dialogue to ease political tensions. At the meeting, Council members may welcome the holding of the combined elections, take note of Touadéra’s re-election, and encourage all stakeholders to resolve any electoral disputes through peaceful dialogue.
Council members are also likely to focus on the implementation of the 2019 Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic (APPR-RCA). Following the April 2025 decision by two armed groups—the Retour, Réclamation et Réhabilitation (3R) and l’Unité pour la paix en Centrafrique (UPC)—to cease hostilities and rejoin the APPR-RCA, MINUSCA has prioritised facilitating the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) of former combatants affiliated with these groups, in line with its mandate. Rugwabiza may update that 1,202 former combatants have been disarmed and demobilised since July 2025, bringing to 6,000 the total number of demobilised ex-combatants since the APPR-RCA was signed.
Council members may note the relatively stable security situation in the CAR, as reflected in the Secretary-General’s report. Following the cessation of hostilities by the 3R and the UPC, there has been a noticeable decline in security incidents, particularly in the west and north-east. However, insecurity persists in other parts of the country, driven by armed group activities around mining sites and transhumance corridors, as well as cross-border incursions along the borders with Sudan and South Sudan. In the south-east, violence perpetrated by the Azande Ani Kpi Gbe (AKKG)—a predominantly ethnic Azande militia accused of committing serious human rights violations—remains a major concern. According to the Secretary-General’s report, the AKKG also attempted to disrupt the electoral process by restricting movement and intimidating communities and local authorities. The group reportedly abducted electoral candidates, local officials, and ANE staff, as well as burned electoral materials and targeted FACA and MINUSCA personnel.
Rugwabiza may elaborate on MINUSCA’s efforts to reinforce its temporary bases in response to insecurity affecting local populations. She might also outline measures taken by the mission to provide a secure environment for the conduct of elections, facilitate humanitarian assistance, curb the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, support the extension of state authority, and strengthen border management, among other priorities.
During the period covered by the Secretary-General’s report, incidents of human rights violations and abuses decreased by 24 percent, while the number of victims fell by 16 percent, reflecting progress in the peace process. Despite this improvement, elements of the 3R and the UPC were reportedly involved in human rights abuses, including attacks against women and girls. The AKKG also continued to perpetrate crimes, including abductions, conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), and attacks against peacekeepers and humanitarian workers. According to the Secretary-General’s report, CRSV remains widespread but underreported, while serious violations of children’s rights increased during the reporting period. At the meeting, some Council members may express concern over these developments and reiterate their calls for urgent action to prevent and halt such violations. Rugwabiza might highlight MINUSCA’s continued efforts to strengthen the capacity of national institutions to promote and protect human rights.
The promotion of accountability and justice in the CAR remains a key priority for several Council members. Rugwabiza may describe MINUSCA’s support in this area, including its assistance to the Special Criminal Court (SCC)—a hybrid tribunal composed of national and international judges that has been operating since 2018 and is mandated to investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate the most serious crimes committed in the country. The Secretary-General’s report details the SCC’s recent activities, including the opening of a trial against six individuals charged with crimes against humanity and war crimes allegedly committed in various localities in 2014, as well as two other ongoing cases involving ten alleged perpetrators, among them former president François Bozizé. Persistent funding shortfalls continue to pose significant challenges for the SCC, however, threatening its capacity to effectively deliver justice and ensure accountability. Rugwabiza may highlight MINUSCA’s efforts, in cooperation with partners, to address the Court’s financial constraints and technical gaps.
Soon after the renewal of MINUSCA’s mandate in November 2025 through resolution 2800, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix visited the CAR and reportedly held discussions with the country’s authorities on MINUSCA’s efforts to support the CAR’s stability, despite prevailing financial constraints. Like all other UN peacekeeping operations, MINUSCA has been affected by the UN’s liquidity crisis and has implemented contingency measures to mitigate its impact. At the meeting, Council members may seek updates on how the liquidity crisis is affecting the delivery of MINUSCA’s mandated tasks. Rugwabiza might explain the mission’s financial situation, which has constrained resource allocation and forced the imposition of strict expenditure controls, with priority given to core tasks. These measures have weakened the mission’s operational capacity and mobility, limiting its ability to fully implement its mandate. As at 5 February, the mission had received only 58 percent of its approved budget for the year, according to the Secretary-General’s report.
The US, which was critical of the mission during the most recent mandate renewal negotiations, has recently dispatched a delegation to Bangui to assess the impact of MINUSCA on the ground. Following the conclusion of the general elections in the CAR (the second round of legislative elections are expected in April), a key focus for the US is likely to be the possible handover of certain MINUSCA tasks to the CAR government or the UN Country Team—an approach that it strongly advocated during the mandate renewal negotiations. Resolution 2800 requested the Secretary-General to submit a report with detailed proposals and recommendations by 15 September. In this context, there is particular interest in phasing out the mission’s electoral division following the conclusion of the electoral process. The Secretary-General is expected to outline MINUSCA’s plans in this regard in his upcoming report.
At the meeting, Hilale may highlight the role of the PBC CAR configuration, particularly in mobilising resources for the organisation of the combined elections. The configuration last met in October 2025, ahead of MINUSCA’s mandate renewal, and called for the mission to be adequately resourced to enable it to effectively discharge its responsibilities. The configuration has also supported efforts to promote justice and the rule of law, in particular the SCC’s work. Hilale might also mention the outcome of the Casablanca Investment Roundtable, held in September 2025, which mobilised resources for the implementation of the CAR’s National Development Plan (2024–2028).
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*Post-script (22 February, 8:44 pm EST): The meeting was originally scheduled to take place on Monday (23 February). After the story’s publication, the meeting was postponed due to severe weather conditions in New York that led to the closure of the UN headquarters on 23 February. At the time of writing, a new date for the meeting had yet to be set.
**Post-script (24 February, 10:00 am EST): The meeting has been rescheduled to 25 February at 10 am EST. The story has been modified to reflect the change in date.
