United Nations Security Council Resolution 2149 – Central African Republic

Resolution 2149 (2014)

The Security Council,

Recalling its previous resolutions and statements on the Central African Republic (CAR), in particular resolutions 2121 (2013), 2127 (2013) and 2134 (2014),

Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the CAR, and recalling the importance of the principles of non-interference, good-neighbourliness and regional cooperation,

Reaffirming the basic principles of peacekeeping, including consent of the parties, impartiality, and non-use of force, except in self-defence and defence of the mandate, and recognizing that the mandate of each peacekeeping mission is specific to the need and situation of the country concerned,

Expressing deep concern at the security situation in the CAR,

Recalling that the Transitional Authorities have the primary responsibility to protect the population in the CAR,

Emphasizing that any sustainable solution to the crisis in the CAR should be CAR-owned, including the political process, and should include the restructuring of the Central African security forces,

Further emphasizing that the continued role of the region, including the Chair of ECCAS and its Mediator, as well as the AU, will be critical for the promotion of lasting peace and stability in the CAR,

Welcoming the positive and decisive impact of MISCA’s actions on the ground in protecting civilians and preventing serious violations of international law, and the progress made in the implementation of other aspects of its mandate as reflected in the first progress report of the AU Commission on the deployment and operations of MISCA submitted pursuant to paragraph 32 of resolution 2127 (2013),

Remaining seriously concerned by multiple violations of international humanitarian law and the widespread human rights violations and abuses, including those involving extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests and detention, torture, sexual violence against women and children, rape, recruitment and use of children and attacks against civilians, in particular but not limited to Muslims, and attacks against places of worship, denial of humanitarian access, committed by both former Seleka elements and militia groups, in particular the “anti-Balaka”,

Condemning in the strongest terms all the attacks and provocations against MISCA contingents by armed groups and urging the CAR Transitional Authorities to take all possible measures to ensure the arrest and prosecution perpetrators,

Stressing the urgent and imperative need to end impunity in the CAR and to bring to justice perpetrators of violations of international humanitarian law and of abuses and violations of human rights, underlining in this regard the need to bolster national accountability mechanisms and underlining its support for the work of the Independent Expert on human rights in the CAR and of the International Commission of Inquiry,

Reiterating that all perpetrators of such acts must be held accountable and that some of those acts may amount to crimes under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), to which the CAR is a State party, and further recalling the statement made by the Prosecutor of the ICC on 7 August 2013 and 9 December 2013 and noting the decision made by the Prosecutor of the ICC on 7 February 2014 to open a preliminary examination on the situation in the CAR since September 2012,

Emphasizing the risk of the situation in the CAR providing a conducive environment for transnational criminal activity, such as that involving arms trafficking and the use of mercenaries as well as a potential breeding ground for radical networks,

Acknowledging in this respect the important contribution the Council-mandated arms embargo can make to countering the illicit transfer of arms and related materiel in the CAR and its region, and in supporting post-conflict peacebuilding, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration and security sector reform, and recalling its resolution 2127 (2013) and expressing grave concern at the threat to peace and security in the CAR arising from the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons,

Recalling its decision to establish a sanctions regime pursuant to resolutions 2127 (2013) and 2134 (2014) and emphasizing that the targeted sanctions aim at, inter alia, individuals and entities designated by the Committee as engaging in or providing support for acts that undermine the peace, stability or security of the CAR, that impede the political transition process or that fuel violence and at individuals and entities designated by the Committee as involved in planning, directing, or committing acts that violate international human rights law or international humanitarian law or that constitute human rights abuses or violations,

Reiterating its serious concern at the dire humanitarian situation in the CAR, and emphasizing in particular the humanitarian needs of the more than 760,000 internally displaced persons and of the more than 300,000 refugees in neighbouring countries, a large number of which are Muslim, and further expressing concern at the consequences of the flow of refugees, on the situation in Chad, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as other countries of the region,

Expressing concern at the collapse of the already fragile administration which limits the ability of the new Transitional Authorities to govern,Urging all parties to take the necessary steps to ensure the safety and security of humanitarian personnel, of United Nations and associated personnel and of United Nations installation, equipment and goods,

Reiterating its appreciation for the ongoing efforts of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and its Mediator regarding the CAR crisis, as well as the efforts of the African Union to resolve the crisis, and the efforts of the International Contact Group on the CAR, co-chaired by the AU and the Republic of Congo, and welcoming the communiqué issued at its 4th meeting held in Brazzaville, on 21 March 2014, including the envisaged steps to enhance its effectiveness and support to the transition in the CAR, and encouraging all stakeholders to pursue their efforts,

Reaffirming its deep appreciation for the critical role of MISCA, its troop- and police-contributing countries, and the French Forces to protect civilians, help improve the security situation immediately after the adoption of resolution 2127 (2013) and further expressing appreciation for those partners that have provided airlift and other support to expedite the deployment of troops and improve their effectiveness,

Welcoming the decision of the European Union, expressed at the meeting of the Council of the European Union held on 1 April 2014, to launch a temporary operation, EUFOR RCA, to support MISCA in the Central African Republic,

Expressing the need to accelerate the implementation of the political process, including on the reconciliation aspects and on the holding of free, fair, transparent and inclusive elections as soon as technically possible and no later than February 2015,

Welcoming the joint action of some domestic religious leaders at the national level in trying to pacify relations and prevent violence between religious communities and noting the need to amplify their voices at the local level,

Recalling the need for an inclusive and effective disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process (DDR) as well as repatriation (DDRR) in the cas e of foreign fighters while respecting the need to fight against impunity,

Recalling its resolutions 1265 (1999), 1296 (2000), 1674 (2006), 1738 (2006)and 1894 (2009) on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, its resolutions 1612 (2005), 1882 (2009), 1998 (2011), 2068 (2012) and 2143 (2014) on Children and Armed Conflict and its resolutions 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009), 1889 (2009), 1960 (2010), 2106 (2013) and 2122 (2013) on Women, Peace and Security and calling upon all parties in the CAR to engage with the Special Representative on Children and Armed Conflict and the Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict,

Acknowledging the adoption of the partnership arrangement between the African Union Commission and the United Nations Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict to mainstream child protection in the policies and operations of the African Union, signed in Addis Ababa on 17 September 2013, and of the Framework of Cooperation between the United Nations Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict and the African Union Commission Concerning the Prevention and Response to Conflict-related Sexual Violence in Africa adopted in Addis Ababa on 31 January 2014,

Welcoming the strong engagement of the European Union (EU) for the CAR, in particular the decision to contribute financially to the deployment of MISCA within the framework of the African Peace Facility, and further welcoming the contribution of the United States of America and contributions of Member States to the United Nations Trust Fund for the support to MISCA,

Welcoming the pledges made at the High-Level Meeting on Humanitarian Action in the Central African Republic in Brussels, on 20 January 2014 and encouraging the international community to swiftly follow through on pledges to continue providing support in response to the humanitarian situation in CAR, and to prepare for reconstruction with an approach linking relief, rehabilitation and development (LRRD),

Welcoming the pledges made at the Addis Ababa Donors’ Conference on 1 February 2014 to support MISCA and the financial contribution made by the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and encouraging the international community to swiftly follow through on these pledges and to continue providing support to MISCA,

Calling on international partners to assist the Transitional Authorities in building the institutional capacity of national police and customs authorities to effectively monitor the borders and points of entry, including to support the implementation of the measures established by paragraph 54 of resolution 2127 (2013) and the disarmament and repatriation of foreign armed elements,

Welcoming the World Bank’s plan for 2014 presented at the Central African Republic Peacebuilding Commission Country-Specific Configuration meeting on 19 February 2014 and strongly encouraging international financial institutions to continue to engage with the Transitional Authorities,

Taking note of the report of the visit undertaken by the Chair of CAR Configuration to Bangui (4-7 March), welcoming its continued engagement in mobilizing and sustaining the attention and commitment of partners’ efforts as well as the Peacebuilding Fund and further underlining the role of the PBC in supporting the efforts of the Transitional Authorities towards national dialogue and reconciliation process, as well as in addressing challenges facing the country, including political accompaniment, mobilization of international attention and support,

Calling on international partners to provide financial contributions to support DDR, DDRR and electoral processes,

Taking note of the letter from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Central African Republic dated 27 January 2014 requesting the deployment of a United Nations peacekeeping operation to stabilize the country and address the civilian aspects of the crisis,

Taking note of the letter from the Chairperson of the African Union Commission dated 17 February 2014 proposing a number of steps for enhanced international action in favour of the CAR, including the strengthening of MISCA through the mobilization of a more predictable and sustainable support, in order to enable it to effectively implement its mandate and complete the initial stabilization phase of the situation, with a view to facilitating broader and more sustained international engagement in particular through the deployment of a United Nations peacekeeping operation, and further taking note of the African Union Peace and Security Council Communique of 7 March 2014 on the achievements of MISCA and long-term stabilization of the CAR,

Welcoming the Secretary-General’s report (S/2014/142) and noting that the situation in the Central African Republic warrants a unified and integrated approach, including through a multidimensional United Nations peacekeeping operation and, further welcoming its recommendations for the establishment of such an operation,

Taking note of the letter of the President of the Central African Republic to the Security Council dated 8 April 2014,

Determining that the situation in the CAR constitutes a threat to international peace and security in the region,

Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,

Adopted by the Security Council at its 7153rd meeting, on 10 April 2014.