UNITED NATIONS : The Security Council Thursday approved the establishment of a nearly 12,000-strong United Nations peacekeeping operation to protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian access in Central African Republic (CAR), which has been torn by escalating violence between Christians and Muslims.
The 10,000 UN troops and 1,800 police will take over from 5,000 African Union soldiers — but not until Sept 15.
A separate 2,000-strong French force in the Central African Republic is authorized to use “all necessary means” to support the new UN force.
Unanimously adopting a new resolution, the Council authorized the mandate of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in CAR (MINUSCA) through April 30, 2015.
The new mission will take over the responsibilities of the African-led International Support Mission, known as MISCA, and, as from 15 September 2014, will initially comprise up to 10,000 military personnel, including 240 military observers and 200 staff officers, as well as 1,800 police personnel, including 1,400 formed police unit personnel and 400 individual police officers, and 20 corrections officers.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon paid a visit to the CAR this past weekend to focus the world’s attention on a crisis that has been marked by widespread atrocities and suffering, and to call on the country’s citizens to heed the lessons of neighbouring Rwanda and stop the violence.
The UN chief’s visit came amid a recent escalation in fighting in the CAR capital, Bangui, between Christians and Muslims. The crisis, which began in December 2012, has left thousands of people dead, and 2.2 million, about half the population of CAR, in need of humanitarian aid.
More than 650,000 people are still internally displaced, and over 290,000 have fled to neighbouring countries in search of refuge.
The resolution expresses serious concern at multiple violations of human rights and humanitarian law committed by both former Seleka elements and anti-Balaka militia including killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests and detentions, torture, sexual violence against women and children, rape and attacks on civilians, “in particular but not limited to Muslims,” and attacks on places of worship.
The resolution “demands that all militias and armed groups put aside their arms, cease all forms of violence and destabilizing activities immediately and release children from their ranks.”
The Security Council wanted a strong mandate and the resolution authorizes the new UN force to protect civilians and support the disarmament of combatants and the restoration of peace and law and order. It also authorizes peacekeepers to help investigate violations of human rights and humanitarian law by armed groups including former Seleka rebel and the anti-Balaka.