United Nations Security Council Resolution 2448 – The situation in the Central African Republic

Resolution 2448 (2018)

The Security Council,

Recalling its previous resolutions and statements on the Central African Republic (CAR), in particular resolutions 2121 (2013), 2127 (2013), 2134 (2014), 2149 (2014), 2181 (2014), 2196 (2015), 2212 (2015), 2217 (2015), 2262 (2016), 2264 (2016), 2281 (2016), 2301 (2016), 2339 (2017), 2387 (2017), 2399 (2018), as well as resolution 2272 (2016), and its Presidential Statements S/PRST/2014/28 of 18 December 2014, S/PRST/2015/17 of 20 October 2015, S/PRST/2016/17 of 16 November 2016, S/PRST/2017/5 of 4 April 2017, S/PRST/2017/9 of 13 July 2017 and S/PRST/2018/14 of 13 July 2018,

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, such as consent of the parties, impartiality, and non-use of force, except in self-defence and defence of the mandate, recognizing that the mandate of each peacekeeping mission is specific to the need and situation of the country concerned, underlining that the mandates that it authorizes are consistent with the basic principles, reiterating that the Security Council expects full delivery of the mandates it authorizes, and recalling in this regard its resolution 2436 (2018),

Recalling that the CAR Authorities have the primary responsibility to protect all populations in the CAR in particular from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity and, in this regard, recalling the importance of restoring state authority in all parts of the country,

Expressing deep concern regarding persistent violence perpetrated by armed groups throughout the country in their attempts to forcefully gain control of territory and resources and destabilize the country, as well as the lack of capacity of the national security forces, and the persistence of the root causes of the conflict,

Condemning in the strongest terms incitement to ethnic and religious hatred and violence and the multiple violations of international humanitarian law and the widespread human rights violations and abuses, including those committed against children and those involving sexual and gender-based violence in conflict, committed notably by both ex-Seleka and anti-Balaka elements, and other armed groups, as well as the targeting of civilians from specific communities, resulting in deaths, injuries and displacements,

Expressing its concern that children have continued to be victims of abuses committed by armed elements of the ex-Seleka and anti-Balaka as well as other armed groups, including the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), and that women and girls continue to be violently targeted and victims of sexual and gender-based violence in the CAR,

Recalling its resolutions on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, including 2286 (2016) and 1894 (2009), its resolutions on Children and Armed Conflict including 2225 (2015) and 2427 (2018) and its resolutions on Women, Peace and Security including 2106 (2013) and 2242 (2015), welcoming the ratification by the CAR Authorities of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict on 21 September 2017, underlining the importance of its full implementation, 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,

Emphasizing that any sustainable solution to the crisis in the CAR should be CAR-owned, including the political process, and should prioritize reconciliation of the Central African people, through an inclusive process that involves men and women of all social, economic, political, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including, those displaced by the crisis,

Recalling the holding of, and local participation in, grassroots consultations throughout the country between 21 January and 8 March 2015, which enabled thousands of people in the CAR to express their views on the future of their country, and the holding and the current relevance of the Bangui Forum in May 2015, during which the Republican Pact for Peace, National Reconciliation and Reconstruction as well as agreements on the principles for disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and repatriation (DDR/R), justice and reconciliation, and security sector reform (SSR), and on the commitment by armed groups to end the recruitment and use of children and to release all children from their ranks, were adopted,

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, including in the context of the peace process led by the African Initiative, welcoming in this regard the official launch of investigations by the Special Criminal Court (SCC) and the steps initiated by the Government of the CAR in establishing other transitional justice mechanisms to ensure accountability for past crimes and reparation for victims while promoting national reconciliation, and underlining the need to bolster the other national accountability mechanisms as well as the support for the work of the Independent Expert on human rights in the CAR,

Reiterating the primary responsibility of the national authorities to ensure a conducive environment for the effective and independent investigation, prosecution and adjudication of all cases, also emphasizing the need for the CAR government to ensure institutional preparedness to that end,

Recalling the peaceful organization of a constitutional referendum on 13 December 2015 and legislative and presidential elections in December 2015, February and March 2016, as well as the inauguration of the President Faustin-Archange Touadéra on 30 March 2016,

Taking note of the upcoming presidential, legislative and local elections in 2020/2021 and underlining the primary responsibility of the Government of the CAR to organize inclusive, free, fair, transparent, credible, peaceful and timely electoral processes, including the full and effective participation of women, and encouragingthe CAR authorities, with the support of relevant partners, to promote the participation of IDPs and refugees in accordance with the Constitution of the CAR,

Emphasizing the fact that the current security situation in the CAR provides 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,

Reiterating that illicit trade, exploitation and smuggling of natural resources including gold, diamonds, and wildlife poaching and trafficking continues to threaten the peace and stability of the CAR,

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, and the use of such weapons against civilians,

Acknowledging in this respect the important contribution to the peace, stability or security of the CAR, of the Council-mandated sanctions regime renewed by resolution 2399 (2018), including its provisions related to the arms embargo, and its provisions related to individuals or entities designated by the Committee as engaging in or providing support for acts that undermine the peace, stability or security of the CAR,

Expressing concern about reported travel by individuals designated pursuant to UNSC resolution 2127 (2013) and noting the critical importance of effective implementation of the sanctions regime, including the key role that neighbouring States, as well as regional and subregional organizations, can play in this regard and encouraging efforts to further enhance cooperation,

Reiterating its serious concern at the dire humanitarian situation in the CAR and the consequences of the deterioration of the security situation on humanitarian access, condemning in the strongest terms attacks against humanitarian workers, and emphasizing in particular the current humanitarian needs of more than half of the population of the country and the alarming situation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees in neighbouring countries, further expressing concern at the consequences of the flow of refugees on the situation in countries of the region, and recalling the need for Member States to scale up funding to urgently respond to the humanitarian needs in the country identified in the 2018 Humanitarian Response Plan,

Recognizing the adverse effects of climate change, ecological changes and natural disasters, among other factors, on the stability of the Central African Region, including through drought, desertification, land degradation, and food insecurity, and stressing the need for adequate risk assessment by the United Nations relating to these factors and for long-term strategies by governments of the Central African Region and the United Nations to support stabilization and build resilience,

Recalling the responsibility of the CAR Authorities to protect and promote the right to freedom of movement of all people in the CAR, including IDPs, without distinction, their freedom to choose where to reside, and to comply with their right to return to their own country or to leave in order to seek asylum in other States and expressing concern for the plight of civilians trapped in enclaves with limited access to humanitarian assistance,

Underlining the continued need to support national, and to coordinate in a transparent manner international, efforts towards the transformation of the security sector in the CAR and stressing the crucial role of the Internal Security Forces (ISF) (police and gendarmerie) in the restoration of community security, public safety and the rule of law in the CAR,

Welcoming in this regard the work carried out by the European Union Training Mission in the CAR (EUTM-RCA), as well as the support of other international and regional partners, including France, the Russian Federation and the United States, to provide coherent, transparent, and coordinated support to reform the FACA into multi-ethnic, professional, and representative armed forces, and to the training and the enhancement of capacities of the national security and defence forces, and encouraging effective coordination between the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), EUTM-RCA and other international partners in this regard,

Welcoming the continued role of the United Nations, including the Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA), neighbouring countries, the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the International Conference on the Great Lakes region (ICGLR), as well as the strong engagement of the European Union (EU), and the continued engagement of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, other international partners and donors, and the Community of Sant’Egidio, in support of the stabilization of the CAR,

Condemning in the strongest terms all attacks, provocations and incitement to violence against MINUSCA contingents and other international forces by armed groups or other perpetrators, paying tribute to the personnel of MINUSCA who sacrificed their lives in the service of peace, underlining that attacks targeting peacekeepers may constitute war crimes, reminding all parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law and urging the CAR Authorities to take all possible measures to ensure the arrest and prosecution of perpetrators,

Welcoming in this regard MINUSCA’s efforts to protect civilians and to combat armed groups with the success of operation “MBARANGA” in Paoua, launched in January 2018, and other ongoing operations in the country,

Welcoming the commitment of the Secretary-General to enforce strictly his zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), noting the various measures taken by MINUSCA and Troop- and Police-contributing countries (T/PCCs) to combat SEA, which has led to a reduction in reported cases, but still expressing grave concern over numerous allegations of SEA reportedly committed by peacekeepers in the CAR, as well as by non-United Nations forces, stressing the urgent need for T/PCCs and, as appropriate, MINUSCA, to promptly investigate those allegations in a credible and transparent manner and for those responsible for such criminal offences or misconduct to be held to account, and further stressing the need to prevent such exploitation and abuse and to improve how these allegations are addressed in line with resolution 2272 (2016),

Noting the presentation of the report on “Improving Security of United Nations Peacekeepers”, which highlights the link between the safety and security of peacekeepers and the performance of troops, recognizing that fatalities can be a consequence of deficiencies in training, equipment and performance,

Recognizing that institutionalizing a culture of performance in UN peacekeeping will contribute to better delivery of peacekeeping mandates, as well as lead to improvements in the safety and security of peacekeepers, and welcoming the work already initiated by the Secretariat in the setting up of a comprehensive and integrated performance policy framework measuring performance based on data collection and analysis,

Welcoming the initiative of the Secretary-General to conduct Special Investigations into performance issues, and encouraging the Secretary-General to report on the findings of such investigations and efforts to take collective action to improve peacekeeping operations,

Reiterating its serious concern at the continuing lack of key capabilities for MINUSCA, stressing the need to fill gaps in, in particular in the field of military helicopters, and emphasizing the utmost importance of improving logistics support to ensure the security and safety of MINUSCA’s personnel in that regard,

Stressing the need to implement MINUSCA’s mandate, based on the prioritization of tasks, and, when relevant, in a phased manner,

Taking note of the Report of the Secretary-General of 15 October 2018 (S/2018/922) which builds on the findings and recommendations of the independent strategic review of MINUSCA conducted in June-September 2018,

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,

Adopted by the Security Council at its 8422nd meeting, on 13 December 2018.