The Security Council on Thursday adopted a resolution to renew the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (CAR) till Nov. 15, 2019.
Resolution 2448 also decides that the peacekeeping mission, known by its French acronym as MINUSCA, shall maintain its current personnel level — 11,650 troops and 2,080 police officers.
It decides that MlNUSCA’s strategic objective is to support the creation of the political, security and institutional conditions conducive to the sustainable reduction of the presence of, and threat posed by, armed groups through a comprehensive approach and proactive and robust posture without prejudice to the basic principles of peacekeeping.
The resolution sets as priority tasks of MINUSCA the protection of civilians; good offices and support to the CAR peace process, including national reconciliation, social cohesion and transitional justice; facilitation of the creation of a secure environment for the immediate, full, safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance; and the protection of UN personnel, sites and equipment.
France first circulated the draft resolution in early November. But by the date of expiry of MINUSCA’s mandate on Nov. 15, the French text seemed not to be able to pass owing to reservations by Russia and the United States, two permanent members of the Security Council that have veto power.
The Security Council had to adopt Resolution 2446 to provide a technical roll-over for a month to allow negotiations on the French draft resolution.
Resolution 2448 won the approval of 13 Security Council members. Russia and China — the remaining members of the council — abstained because the French-drafted resolution did not make direct reference to Russia’s efforts to help the country.
