UNITED NATIONS: The Security Council voted unanimously yesterday to send 12,000 UN peacekeepers to the Central African Republic, where violence between Christians and Muslims has triggered fears of genocide.
The resolution, submitted by France, will deploy up to 10,000 military personnel and 1,800 police to the former French colony, where sectarian violence has killed thousands in the last year.
The UN peacekeeping mission is scheduled to take over on September 15 from 2,000 French and 6,000 African Union soldiers already in place as humanitarian needs in CAR escalate.
The Security Council adopted Resolution 2149 in a vote called by Nigeria, which holds the body’s rotating presidency. The mandate of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) is to protect civilians and humanitarian convoys, maintain order, support a political transition and promote human rights.
France hailed what its ambassador to the UN called a “key turning point” and urged the UN and African Union to “do everything possible to allow a swift and effective deployment”. “The security situation in CAR remains volatile,” ambassador Gerard Araud told reporters after the vote.
“African Union troops supported by the French troops are doing tremendous work to protect the civilian population — but it’s just not yet enough.”
US ambassador Samantha Power, who just returned from the Central African Republic, said she could “personally attest to the critical urgency” of bringing more security there. She said the country was on the “edge of disaster”.
“AU troops have done heroic work... but untold horrors continue in small villages throughout the countryside,” she said.
The United States has pledged $67m in humanitarian aid for the Central African Republic this financial year, focused on health, protection, economic recovery, water and sanitation.
Reuters
