Central African Republic

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the appointment of Valentine Rugwabiza of Rwanda as his new Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).

Local elections in the Central African Republic (CAR), which have been pending since 1988 and are slated for September, will deepen efforts to decentralize power and expand political space, the UN envoy for the country told the Security Council on Tuesday, encouraging the new Government to “deploy all possible efforts” to calm the political climate.

The Central African Republic’s prime minister has been sacked, the presidency confirmed Monday (7 February), against the backdrop of tensions between pro-Russian and pro-French factions within the government of the poor, unstable country.

The United Nations is investigating the alleged killing of dozens of people in the Central African Republic last week by CAR forces and mercenaries with the Russian private military company Wagner. More than 30 civilians were reportedly killed, some by stray bullets, in the January 16-17 operation.

Three Tanzanian peacekeepers  serving on the United Nations’ mission in Central African Republic (MINUSCA) were injured on Thursday, when their vehicle struck an unidentified explosive device.

The EU Training Mission in Central African Republic (EUTM RCA) says it has advised, educated and trained more than 3,400 members of CAR’s forces since 2016 as they fight to stabilise a country facing multiple rebel insurgencies. … “We would need the guarantee that the soldiers trained by EUTM are not employed by the Wagner mercenaries,” an EUTM RCA spokesperson told Reuters. “For the moment, we don’t have a response.”

The UN continues to take steps to address allegations of sexual misconduct by peacekeepers in the Central African Republic (CAR) in the wake of the repatriation of Gabonese troops three months ago.

ICC ‘partially’ confirms charges of war crimes against alleged Seleka leader Mahamat Said Abdel Kani, commits him to trial.

Rebel attacks in the northwest of the Central African Republic at the weekend claimed at least 30 civilian lives and those of two soldiers, local officials said Tuesday.

At least 11 civilians have been killed and several others wounded during fighting between rebels and soldiers in northwestern Central African Republic, the local prefect has said.