United Nations Security Council Resolution 2693 – The situation in the Central African Republic

Resolution 2693 (2023)

The Security Council,

Recalling all of its previous resolutions, statements of its President, and press statements on the situation in the Central African Republic (CAR),

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,

Welcoming the efforts made by the CAR authorities, in coordination with their regional and international partners, to advance the reform of the security sector (SSR), including the ongoing deployment of CAR defence and security forces, encouragingthem to continue and enhance the implementation of their National Defence Plan, Force Employment Concept, and National Security Policy, and acknowledging the urgent need for the CAR authorities to train and equip their defence and security forces to be able to respond proportionately to threats to the security of all citizens in the CAR and to protect and promote human rights and prevent violations and abuses,

Reaffirming that implementation of the Political Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in the CAR (the Peace Agreement) remains the only mechanism for achieving lasting peace and stability in the CAR, welcoming the recent formal dissolution of two armed groups and factions of three other armed groups that are signatory to the Peace Agreement, urging all parties to respect the ceasefire announced by President Touadéra on 15 October 2021, expressing concern that some signatories to the Peace Agreement continue to disregard their commitments, urgingall signatories to implement the Peace Agreement in good faith and without delay, also urging all stakeholders in the CAR to engage in dialogue to make further progress toward peace, security, justice, reconciliation, inclusivity and development, and underscoring the need for international partners to support the implementation of the Peace Agreement via the roadmap adopted by the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) in Luanda on 16 September 2021, and to continue coordinating their actions with the CAR Government to bring lasting peace and stability to the CAR,

Condemning cross-border criminal activities, such as arms trafficking, illicit trade, illegal exploitation, and trafficking of natural resources, including gold, diamonds, timber, and wildlife, as well as the illicit transfer, destabilising accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons, that threaten the peace and stability of the CAR, also condemning the use of mercenaries and violations of international humanitarian law and human rights violations and abuses perpetrated by them, encouraging the Government of CAR to continue enhancing the existing collaboration with neighbouring countries to secure its borders and other entry points to prevent the cross-border flows of armed combatants, arms and conflict minerals, stressing the need for CAR authorities to finalise and implement, in cooperation with relevant partners, a strategy to tackle the illegal exploitation and smuggling of natural resources, and encouraging the government of CAR and neighbouring countries to work together to secure their borders,

Expressing serious concern about the humanitarian situation in the CAR, further expressing concern about the outbreak of conflict in Sudan and its impact on the security and humanitarian situation in the CAR, and calling on all parties to the conflicts to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law, in particular to allow and facilitate the rapid and unhindered passage for humanitarian relief to the population in need across the CAR,

Taking note of the request of the CAR authorities to lift the arms embargo and also taking note of the positions expressed by African regional and subregional organizations in the context of their support to the peace process,

Recalling that the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2127 (2013) concerning the CAR (“the Committee”) has approved all exemption requests submitted by the CAR authorities under the framework of the arms embargo,

Welcoming the commitment demonstrated and the progress made by the CAR authorities, along with their regional and international partners, to achieve the key benchmarks for the review of the arms embargo measures, established in the statement of its President of 9 April 2019 (S/PRST/2019/3) (“the key benchmarks”), noting in particular progress achieved by the Commission nationale de lutte contre la prolifération des armes légères et de petit calibre, as well as progress towards an agreement on the national marking format, affirming that the key benchmarks constitute a solid cooperation framework on reform of the security sector (SSR), the disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and repatriation (DDRR) process, and the management of weapons and ammunition in the CAR, and reiterating the need for the CAR authorities to continue improving physical protection, control, management, traceability, and accountability of weapons, ammunition and military equipment transferred to their control,

Encouraging the CAR authorities to continue with their efforts aimed at reforming their security forces, implementing the Disarmament, Demobilisation, Reintegration and Repatriation (DDRR) programme in line with the Peace Agreement via the roadmap and operating an effective weapons and ammunition management system, calling on the CAR authorities and MINUSCA to continue strengthening their coordination, and also calling on the CAR authorities to take all appropriate measures to enhance the safety and security of United Nations personnel and equipment,

Welcoming all efforts by CAR authorities towards achieving the advancement of the SSR process, the DDRR process and necessary weapons and ammunition management reforms, encouraging the CAR authorities to continue their progress in this regard, calling on regional and international partners to provide coordinated support to the CAR authorities in these efforts, noting in that regard the roles of MINUSCA in line with its mandate, the European Union Training Mission in the CAR (EUTM), as well as joint bilateral commissions,

Welcoming efforts by the Panel of Experts to investigate violations of the arms embargo, and noting its intention to hold those who violate the arms embargo accountable,

Stressing that deliveries of weapons, ammunition and military equipment and the provision of technical assistance or training, to the CAR security forces should contribute to the development of CAR security sector institutions and respond to the specific needs of the CAR defence and security forces,

Stressing that the measures imposed by this resolution are not intended to have adverse humanitarian consequences for the civilian population of the CAR, and recalling resolution 2664 (2022),

Recalling the need for States to ensure that all measures taken by them to implement this resolution comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, international human rights law and international refugee law, as applicable,

Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General of 15 May 2023 (S/2023/442) submitted pursuant to resolution 2659 (2022),

Taking note of the Secretary-General’s letter dated 15 June 2023 addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/2023/356) consistent with paragraph 13 of resolution 2588 (2021) and of the CAR authorities’ report addressed on 26 June 2023 to the Committee consistent with paragraph 13 of resolution 2648 (2022),

Further taking note of the final report (S/2023/360) of the Panel of Experts on the CAR established pursuant to resolution 2127 (2013), expanded by resolution 2134 (2014) and extended pursuant to resolution 2588 (2021) (“the Panel of Experts”), and taking note also of the Panel of Experts’ recommendations,

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

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

1. Decides that the arms embargo measures established by resolution 2127 (2013) and the notification requirements set out in paragraph 1 of resolution 2648 (2022) shall no longer apply to the supply, sale or transfer of arms and related materiel and the provision of assistance, advice and training to the CAR security forces, including state civilian law enforcement institutions;

2. Decides all other provisions set out in paragraph 1 of resolution 2648 (2022) shall continue to apply until July 31, 2024, further decides that the supplying Member State or international, regional or subregional organisation is primarily responsible for notifying the Committee and that such notification must be in advance of the delivery of supplies or provision of assistance, reaffirms that such notification shall no longer apply to the supply, sale or transfer of arms and related materiel and the provision of assistance, advice and training to the CAR security forces, in accordance with paragraph 1 above;

3. Decides to renew until 31 July 2024 the measures and provisions as set out in paragraph 4 of resolution 2488 (2019), except for the supply, sale or transfer of arms and related materiel and the provision of assistance, advice and training to the CAR security forces, in paragraph 5 of resolution 2488 (2019) and in paragraph 2 of resolution 2399 (2018) and recalls paragraph 9 of resolution 2488 (2019);

4. Decides to renew until 31 July 2024 the measures and provisions as set out in paragraphs 9, 14, and 16 to 19 of resolution 2399 (2018) and extended by paragraph 4 of resolution 2536 (2020) and recalls paragraphs 10 to 13 and 15 of resolution 2399 (2018);

5. Reaffirms that the measures described in paragraphs 9 and 16 of resolution 2399 (2018) shall apply to individuals and entities as designated by the Committee, as set forth in paragraphs 20 to 22 of resolution 2399 (2018) and extended by paragraph 5 of resolution 2648 (2022), including for involvement in planning, directing, sponsoring or committing acts in the CAR that violate international humanitarian law, which include attacks against medical personnel or humanitarian personnel;

6. Decides to extend until 31 August 2024 the mandate of the Panel of Experts, as set out in paragraphs 30 to 39 of resolution 2399 (2018) and extended by paragraph 6 of resolution 2648 (2022), expresses its intention to review the mandate and take appropriate action regarding its further extension no later than 31 July 2024, and requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary administrative measures as expeditiously as possible to allow the Panel of Experts to pursue its work without interruptions, in consultation with the Committee, drawing, as appropriate, on the expertise of the current members of the Panel of Experts;

7. Requests the Panel of Experts to provide to the Council, after discussion with the Committee, a midterm report no later than 31 January 2024, a final report no later than 15 June 2024, and progress updates, as appropriate;

8. Strongly condemns attacks committed by armed groups of the Coalition des patriotes pour le changement (CPC), and requests the Panel, in the course of carrying out its mandate, to consider proposing or updating further statements of cases for possible designation pursuant to paragraphs 20 to 21 of resolution 2399 (2018);

9. Expresses particular concern about reports of illicit transnational trafficking networks which continue to fund and supply armed groups in the CAR, notes in particular the increasing use of explosive ordnances, including improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and landmines, which account for a growing number of civilian casualties as well as the destruction of civilian properties and continue to disrupt humanitarian access, and requests the Panel, in the course of carrying out its mandate, to devote special attention to the analysis of such networks and threats relating to explosive ordnances, in cooperation with other Panels or Groups of Experts established by the Security Council as appropriate;

10. Urges all parties, and all Member States, as well as international, regional and subregional organisations to ensure cooperation with the Panel of Experts and the safety of its members;

11. Further urges all Member States and all relevant United Nations bodies to ensure unhindered access, in particular to persons, documents and sites in or der for the Panel of Experts to execute its mandate and recalls the value of information -sharing between MINUSCA and the Panel of Experts;

12. Reaffirms the Committee provisions and the reporting and review provisions as set out in resolution 2399 (2018) and extended by resolution 2588 (2021);

13. Requests the CAR authorities to report, by 15 May 2024, to the Committee on the progress achieved regarding the SSR, the disarmament, demobilisation, reintegration and repatriation (DDRR) process in line with the Peace Agreement via the roadmap, and the management of weapons and ammunition;

14. Requests the Secretary-General, in close consultation with MINUSCA, including UNMAS, and the Panel of Experts, to report, no later than 15 May 2024, on the progress achieved by the CAR authorities on the key benchmarks;

15. Affirms that it shall closely monitor the situation in the CAR, including progress achieved in relation to the SSR process, the DDRR process in line with the Peace Agreement via the roadmap and the management of weapons and ammunition;

16. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

Adopted by the Security Council at its 9388th meeting, on 27 July 2023.