by Benson Agoha
United Nations Peace Keepers are set to head to the Central African Republics (CAR) after the Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon visited the crisis-hit country on April 5, 2014, in what was described as a bid to spotlight the crisis in the country.
An official statement from the UN said the Security Council was deeply concerned over the worsening security situation and ongoing human right abuses in the country.
The announcement comes on the heel of Thursday's, 10 April 2014, approval by the Security Council to set up a nearly 12,000-strong United Nations peacekeeping operation to protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian access in the war-torn country.
A new resolution was unanimously adopted by the Council authorizing the mandate of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in CAR (MINUSCA) through 30 April 2015.
The statement said the new mission will take over the responsibilities of the African-led International Support Mission, known as MISCA, and, as from 15 September 2014, will initially comprise up to 10,000 military personnel.
The UN mission will also include 240 military observers, 200 staff officers, 1,800 police personnel to be made up of 1,400 formed police unit personnel and 400 individual police officers, as well as 20 corrections officers.
"The Council requests Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon to incorporate the presence of the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in the Central African Republic (BINUCA) into MINUSCA as of today and to ensure “a seamless transition” from one entity to the other," the UN statement said.
Ban Ki Moon welcomed the Security Council's decision and said it “will lead to the immediate, concrete and sustainable support that the Central African people need and deserve,” and calling for an immediate end to the killings, targeted attacks and other atrocious human rights violations that continue with total impunity.
Besides the African-led MISCA, other regional forces in CAR where horrendous human rights abuses are continually being reported include French forces known as `Sangaris' and the recently authorised European Union Force in the Central African Republic, EUFOR.
Regional blocks like the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the African Union (AU), and the Mediation led by the Republic of Congo in support of the political transition in the Central African Republic have not stopped the abuses.
But Ban Ki Moon said “This is the moment for the international community to demonstrate its collective support to the efforts undertaken by the Transitional Government, under the leadership of Catherine Samba-Panza, to bring long-lasting peace, stability and reconciliation to the Central African Republic.”
He commended the tireless efforts of MISCA, which, he said, will continue to implement its mandate until 15 September, alongside French forces known as Sangaris, and the recently authorized European Union Force in the Central African Republic, EUFOR.
The Central African Republic has been plagued by in fighting and sectional wars with Christians and Muslims trying to eliminate each other since December 2012. The fighting has been worse in the capital Bangui.
According to UN figures, the crisis, has left "thousands of people dead, and 2.2 million, about half the population of CAR, in need of humanitarian aid."
The statement said more than 650,000 people are still internally displaced, and over 290,000 have fled to neighbouring countries in search of refuge.
Meanwhile, the UN also announces the increase of mobil clinics in cooperation with other partners in Central African Republic.
* Follow me on Twitter: @bensonagoha or @woolwichonline.
* Photo Credit: UN Photo/ES/BINUCA/Samir Afridi/UN News Centre
United Nations Peace Keepers are set to head to the Central African Republics (CAR) after the Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon visited the crisis-hit country on April 5, 2014, in what was described as a bid to spotlight the crisis in the country.
An official statement from the UN said the Security Council was deeply concerned over the worsening security situation and ongoing human right abuses in the country.
* UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visiting the Central African Republic on 5 April, 2014 during which he met both with internally displaced people and representatives of the National Transitional Council.
A new resolution was unanimously adopted by the Council authorizing the mandate of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in CAR (MINUSCA) through 30 April 2015.
The statement said the new mission will take over the responsibilities of the African-led International Support Mission, known as MISCA, and, as from 15 September 2014, will initially comprise up to 10,000 military personnel.
The UN mission will also include 240 military observers, 200 staff officers, 1,800 police personnel to be made up of 1,400 formed police unit personnel and 400 individual police officers, as well as 20 corrections officers.
"The Council requests Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon to incorporate the presence of the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in the Central African Republic (BINUCA) into MINUSCA as of today and to ensure “a seamless transition” from one entity to the other," the UN statement said.
Ban Ki Moon welcomed the Security Council's decision and said it “will lead to the immediate, concrete and sustainable support that the Central African people need and deserve,” and calling for an immediate end to the killings, targeted attacks and other atrocious human rights violations that continue with total impunity.
Besides the African-led MISCA, other regional forces in CAR where horrendous human rights abuses are continually being reported include French forces known as `Sangaris' and the recently authorised European Union Force in the Central African Republic, EUFOR.
Regional blocks like the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the African Union (AU), and the Mediation led by the Republic of Congo in support of the political transition in the Central African Republic have not stopped the abuses.
But Ban Ki Moon said “This is the moment for the international community to demonstrate its collective support to the efforts undertaken by the Transitional Government, under the leadership of Catherine Samba-Panza, to bring long-lasting peace, stability and reconciliation to the Central African Republic.”
He commended the tireless efforts of MISCA, which, he said, will continue to implement its mandate until 15 September, alongside French forces known as Sangaris, and the recently authorized European Union Force in the Central African Republic, EUFOR.
The Central African Republic has been plagued by in fighting and sectional wars with Christians and Muslims trying to eliminate each other since December 2012. The fighting has been worse in the capital Bangui.
According to UN figures, the crisis, has left "thousands of people dead, and 2.2 million, about half the population of CAR, in need of humanitarian aid."
The statement said more than 650,000 people are still internally displaced, and over 290,000 have fled to neighbouring countries in search of refuge.
Meanwhile, the UN also announces the increase of mobil clinics in cooperation with other partners in Central African Republic.
* Follow me on Twitter: @bensonagoha or @woolwichonline.
* Photo Credit: UN Photo/ES/BINUCA/Samir Afridi/UN News Centre
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please add your comments here