AU welcomes peacekeeping operation in CAR

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Addis Ababa - The African Union (AU) has welcomed the establishment of a United Nations peacekeeping operation in the Central African Republic (CAR).

The UN Security Council adopted a resolution last Thursday authorising the establishment of a nearly 12 000-strong UN peacekeeping operation -- the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Central African Republic (MINUSCA) -- to protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian access in the war-torn country.

The mission will take over the responsibilities of the African-led International Support Mission (MISCA) from September 15, this year.

AU Commission Chairperson Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said the establishment of the new UN mission would mark a new step in the international community’s efforts to assist the CAR overcome the challenges confronting it.

She expressed the AU’s commitment to work jointly with the UN to ensure a seamless transition from MISCA to MINUSCA.

She also commended the African members of the UN Security Council -- Chad, Nigeria and Rwanda -- for their active involvement in the elaboration of the resolution on the basis of the guidelines provided by the AU Peace and Security Council.

She lauded the close consultations between the pen holder (France) and the African side throughout the drafting of the resolution and expressed the hope that this practice will be sustained and systematized with regard to African issues on the agenda of the Security Council.

She also stressed that, pending the transfer of authority, MISCA would continue fully to implement its mandate.

In particular, MISCA, with the support of the French Operation ‘Sangaris’ and the planned EUFOR-RCA, would continue to lead the ongoing efforts to complete the initial stabilisation phase, building on the significant progress made on the ground, so as to create conditions conducive to the success of MINUSCA. – SAnews.gov.za-NNN-ENA