Renewal of the CAR Sanctions Regime Report of the Security Council Committee Established Pursuant to Resolution 2127 (2013)

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Security Council Distr.: Limited 31 July 2019 Original: English

First session Agenda Item 1

Renewal of the CAR Sanctions Regime Report of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2127 (2013)

I. Introduction

1. The Central African Republic (CAR) is undergoing an internal conflict that has been one of the longest standing humanitarian crises in the UN Security Council Agenda. The nation plunged into turmoil in 2013, when rebels from the alliance then known as Séléka seized power and attacked the capital city of Bangui, which led to retaliation from opposing factions known as Anti-Balaka. The conflict has taken a great toll on the civilian population, with approximately 1.1 million people displaced internally and externally since 20141.

2. The Séléka coalition emerged when it took responsibility for attacks on three towns, from the union of several armed groups in the country. Thousands of people were believed to have been victimized by the group’s attacks, which led to the taking of the capital of Bangui2.

3. The Anti-Balaka movement was formed in response to the Séléka group after their taking power in 2013. While neither the Séléka nor the Anti-Balaka possess an overt religious association, their members are in majority Muslim and Christian respectively3.

1 United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), “Central African Republic situation”, Available at https://www.unhcr.org/central-african-republic-situation.html 2 United Nations Peacekeeping, MINUSCA, “UN condemns murder of French photojournalist in Central African Republic”, 16 May 2014. 3 United Nations Peacekeeping, MINUSCA, “UN condemns murder of French photojournalist in Central African Republic”, 16 May 2014.

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4. Following the attack on the city of Bangui, under recommendation of the Secretary- General 4 , the Council adopted resolution 2121 on the 14th of August 2013, reconsidering the mandate of the peacekeeping missions held in the CAR at the time, United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in the CAR (BINUCA), to include conflict prevention, humanitarian assistance and stabilization efforts towards the security situation. BINUCA was later subsumed and replaced by the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the CAR (MINUSCA), under resolution 2149, in April 2014. Resolution 2121 (2013) also requested a report from the Secretary-General assessing the security situation and outlining further options to improve the success of peacekeeping operations. After a period of consideration, resolution 2127, adopted on the 5th of December of 2013, authorized the deployment of the African Union International Support Mission to the CAR (MISCA), mandated to support all efforts in political reforms and humanitarian assistance. In view of the civilian toll and humanitarian loss incurred during the attack of the city of Bangui by the Séléka group, the resolution also requested that the Secretary-General establish an international commission of inquiry, which resulted in the formation of the CAR Sanctions committee. Sanctions imposed included an arms embargo, asset freeze and travel bans, targeting individuals associated with severe human rights violations. The committee held its first meeting on January 16th, 2014.

5. The arms embargo sanction calls on Member States to prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer of arms and all related equipment to the CAR. The embargo includes ammunition, weaponry, military vehicles and equipment, as well as technical and financial assistance related to military activities or any provision related to the use of any arms within the country. Further, it allows Member States to dispose of prohibited items, should these be discovered within the CAR5. Exemptions to the arms embargo include supplies transferred by Chadian or Sudanese forces solely for enhancing security of their borders with the CAR, as well as non-lethal military equipment required for humanitarian or protective use. CAR security forces may access lethal military equipment only through advance approval6.

6. The travel ban and asset freeze sanctions target individuals charged with undermining peace, preventing them from transiting through the country and from accessing all their financial assets, funds or any other economic resource they may have in the CAR. The criteria for individuals to become listed under the sanctions regime include engagement in efforts to fuel violence and undermine peace and obstruct humanitarian aid, violation of the arms embargo, acts that violate international humanitarian law or target UN missions, illicit taxation and exploitation of natural resources, as well as recruiting children in the armed conflict and involvement in sexual and gender-based violence in the CAR7.

4 See (S/2013/557). 5 Resolution 2127 (2013). 6 United Nations Security Council, Sanctions, The Central African Republic Sanctions Committee, Exemptions to the Measures (see https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/2127/exemptions_measures/arms-embargo), April 30th, 2019. 7 Resolution 2127 (2013).

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7. Exemption to the travel ban included transit driven by religious obligation or necessary to fulfill judicial processes, or travel determined by the Committee in favor of a national reconciliation in the CAR.

8. The CAR Sanctions Committee relies in its Panel of Experts as its monitoring mechanism. The panel is composed of five experts, with a 13-month mandate that can be extended thereafter. The mandate comprises the gathering, examination and assessment of information from Member States, United Nations bodies, regional organizations and other related parties regarding the implementation of the sanctions regime, in particular in incidents of non-compliance8.

9. Despite the dissolution of the Séléka group and installation of a transitional government in late 2013, violence between ex-Séléka and Anti-Balaka factions continued. On April 10th, 2014, the Council adopted resolution 2149 that established MINUSCA, mandated to protect civilians and protect the rule of law in the transition government; followed by the first sanctions designations made on May 9th, listing Séléka leader Nourredine Adam, Anti-Balaka leader Levy Yakete and former president Bozizé for undermining peace.

10. The Council issued a press statement on the 10th of October 2014, calling for a ceasefire and condemning all attacks on civilian communities 9 . In support of reinstating rule of law, the Council also emphasized the urgency of hosting democratic elections to the transitional government. On January 22nd, 2015, the Council adopted resolution 2196 renewing the sanctions regime until January 29th, 2016, and the mandate of the Panel of Experts until February 29th, 2016.

11. Following the insurgence of a new wave of violence in the capital of Bangui between Séléka and Anti-Balaka in mid-2015, the Council issued a press statement condemning an attack against a MINUSCA convoy on August 3rd, 201510. The CAR Sanctions Committee then met with CAR government, MINUSCA and the Panel of Experts to discuss potential exemptions to the arms embargo, including the supplies of arms and other equipment, as well as training to CAR security forces.

12. In the months to follow, despite the continuous upsurge of violence in the capital of Bangui and throughout the country that resulted in the death of MINUSCA peacekeepers, the political transition progressed and the first round of presidential and legislative elections was held on December 27th, 2015 as discussed in the Secretary- General Report on the Situation in the CAR11. Both the Anti-Balaka and the ex-Séléka group undertook intimidation activities to disrupt the elections, resulting in violent incidents in polling centres in the towns of Birao, Bossangoa, Ndele and Kaga Bandoro; but preventive measures taken by MINUSCA allowed for pacific elections in the capital of Bangui and the city of Bria.

8 United Nations Security Council, Sanctions, The Central African Republic Sanctions Committee, Panel of Experts, Work and Mandate (https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/2127/panel-of- experts/work_mandate), April 30th, 2019. 9 See (SC/11596). 10 See (SC/11995). 11 See (S/2015/918).

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13. On November 20th, 2015, the CAR Sanctions Committee met with the Panel of Experts to discuss the findings on its final report, 12. The report detailed the extensive arms-smuggling activities underway in the CAR, with rebel groups continually rearming their forces and exerting influence in almost all inhabited areas of the country. The report also highlighted the threats posed by the Lord’s Resistance (LRA) rebel group, which continually used the country for arms-smuggling activities, particularly in the region nearing the border with Cameroon.

14. On the 27th of January 2016, the Council adopted resolution 2262, renewing the CAR sanctions regime and the Panel of Expert’s mandate for the next year. Discussions to authorize an increase in the number of correction officers in MINUSCA were also undertaken following the discussion of the Panel’s final report detailing the need to enhance security efforts. Later in the year, the committee added several individuals involved in undermining peace to the CAR sanctions list, such as LRA leader Joseph Kony.

15. In the months that followed, the activities of several armed groups in arms-smuggling and illicit exploitation of natural resources worsened. In March 9th, 2016, the committee met with the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) and the head of MINUSCA Parfait Onanga-Anyanga to discuss the monitoring mechanisms under the sanctions and the management of weapons and ammunitions in country. In the press statement released following the meeting, on March 14th, 2016 13 , the Council recognized the disarmament demobilization and reintegration efforts conducted by MINUSCA alongside the newly elected Central African government but noted that a high number of armed factions have not adhered to it, continuing to pose a threat to civilians. Furthermore, the head of MINUSCA informed the CAR Sanctions Committee on the illicit exploitation of natural resources, identifying the smuggling of diamonds as particularly high, as well as small arms and ammunition being smuggled in large volumes into the CAR from several neighboring countries such as Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

16. On the 9th of August 2016, the midterm report issued by the Panel of Experts14 confirmed the findings discussed earlier on with UNMAS and MINUSCA. The report described the short-lived improvement in security after the 2015 election, with ex- Séléka leaders who were sanctioned being elected to the National Assembly and frustrating the government’s disarmament efforts. The Anti-Balaka and LRA groups continued to propagate violence, particularly in the north and central areas of the country. The report identified that the groups maintained their fighting capacity through arms-smuggling; and their financial capacity through looting gold and diamond mines and establishing an illicit taxation system to the population in the region nearing such mines. On the 9th of September, the sanctions committee met with representatives of the CAR, Chad, Ethiopia, South Africa, Sudan and Uganda to discuss the findings of the midterm report, given the recent violent actions taken by the LRA all over the region and sanctions imposed on its members. The final report of the Panel of Experts in 2016, released on the 5th of December 201615 emphasized

12 See (S/2015/936). 13 See (SC/12281). 14 See (S/2016/694). 15 See (S/2016/1032).

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the deterioration of the security situation and the newly elected government’s inability to control it, with an upsurge of violent attacks near the capital of Bangui form both the ex-Séléka and the Anti-Balaka groups between September and October.

17. The CAR Sanctions Committee and the mandate of the Panel of Experts were renewed to 31 January 2018 and 28 February 2018 respectively, under the adopted resolution 2339. Over the year of 2017, the security situation seemed to deteriorate further, with an insurgence of violence and multiple attacks resulting in the death of several peacekeepers and civilians in the southeast and northwest regions of the country.

18. In a press statement released on the 15th of December of 2017 16 , the Council recognized the Panel of Expert’s final report for 2017 describing that no progress on the political process had been achieved in either of those regions. The panel attributed several attacks to self-proclaimed self-defense groups loosely linked to the Anti- Balaka movement, with an agenda of “liberation” of the southeast, targeting Muslims, in their majority associated with the ex-Séléka group, and peacekeepers. The statement also highlighted the importance of enforcing the asset freeze upon sanctioned individuals.

19. Furthermore, 2017 also saw increasing efforts by the international community to reduce arms-smuggling in the CAR, with the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) producing a national strategy road map to control the flow of small arms and ammunition through the country. Despite such efforts, the Panel of Expert’s final report for 2017 described an increase in arms-smuggling activities by Anti-Balaka groups, particularly nearing the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, while the local government remained less armed and unable to control the region.

20. Early 2018 saw an increase in ethnic and religious hatred violence as groups competed for control over certain parts of the territory and natural resources they held. The Report of the Secretary-General on the CAR issued on the 15th of February 201817described the difficult living conditions for civilians, which deteriorated further as nearly half of the population required humanitarian assistance. This was exacerbated by the continuous attacks on humanitarian workers and MINUSCA peacekeepers, making access to emergency humanitarian aid limited and precarious.

21. The report issued by the Panel of Experts in December 14th, 201818, reported that while leaders of armed rebel forces have participated in various meetings supporting a reconciliation initiative, none have taken concrete steps toward disarmament. While CAR security forces are ill-equipped, rebel groups continue to acquire military equipment through arms-smuggling activities. This is said to be particularly true for the ex-Séléka group, which continues to oppose the government and uses the illicit exploitation of gold and diamond mining to produce revenues, and thus acquire weaponry and related equipment.

22. The report further described the constant efforts undertaken by the government of the CAR to obtain exemptions to the arms embargo and acquire military equipment with

16 See (SC/13123). 17 See (S/2018/125). 18 See (S/2018/1119).

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the purpose of strengthening their military position and improving national security forces. In violation of the embargo, national authorities have authorized the import of weapons and hunting ammunition, as well as provided salaries to sanctioned former Anti-Balaka leaders who had previously held positions in the country’s national assembly.

23. Under resolution 2454, adopted on the 31st of January of 2019, the Council renewed the sanctions regime until January 31st, 2020, and the mandate of the Panel of Experts to the 29th of February 2020. The Council also recognized the growing arms- smuggling networks that continue to fund and supply rebel groups in the CAR and requested that the Panel devote more attention to the assessment of such networks for the next year. Furthermore, the resolution also expressed the Council’s intention to adopt benchmarks pertaining to reform in the security sector and in the management of weapons and ammunition, as well as in the disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and repatriation processes. Such key benchmarks, to be developed by the end of the month of April 2019, are to guide the Council in reviewing the arms embargo sanctions.

24. Efforts on stabilization and reconciliation undertaken by the local government and MINUSCA paid off in early 2019. On the 6th of February, the Global Agreement for Peace and National Reconciliation19 was signed between the CAR government and 14 armed groups, following 10 days of negotiations under the African Initiative for Peace and Reconciliation in the CAR, led by the African Union (AU) with support from the United Nations and MINUSCA. In the agreement, parties recognized the need to promote territorial unity in view of the high number of civilians deeply affected by the ongoing conflict. The agreement further outlines the 14-armed forces’ responsibilities in promoting cessation of violence within their own groups and their pledge to uphold the provisions described in the agreement. The agreement also included provisions for the local government to adopt an act on decentralization, transferring legislative authority to territorial units within the country, and to ensure a fair distribution of tasks and responsibilities between the States and all territorial units. While the agreement marks an important step in the road for establishing peace, the implementation of said agreement will be the real test as to its true success, according to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the CAR Parfait Onanga-Anyanga in his last briefing to the Council as head of MINUSCA, on the 21st of February, 201920.

25. The Council issued a presidential statement on the 9th of April 2019 (S/PRST/2019/3), recognizing the efforts undertaking by the CAR government to advance reform in their security forces and the need to do so to respond to the threats posed by the armed rebel forces. Under such circumstances, the Council expressed intentions to review the arms embargo measures should several key benchmarks be achieved. The benchmarks would guide a suspension or progressive lifting of the embargo and would pertain to the contribution of the arms embargo to the security sector reform, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process.

19 See (S/2019/145). 20 See (S/PV.8467).

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26. In the presidential statement, The Council requested an assessment of the progress of obtain the key benchmarks by July 31st, 2019, in consultation with MINUSCA, UNMAS and the Panel of Experts, in order to review the arms embargo measures by September 30th, 2019. II. Major Developments

A. Political situation

27. The transitional political process culminated in the election of Prime Minister Faustin- Archange Touadéra, sworn in as president on March 30th, 2016 after two years of an interim, transitional government. A new constitution was ratified by referendum along with the election of the new president. The election marked the first democratically- elected president and parliament in the country since its independence from France in 197021.

28. Despite the relatively peaceful election, the country remained insecure, with ex- Séléka, Anti-Balaka and other rebel armed forces exerting influence in almost all regions of the country – save the capital city of Bangui – with the elected government able to control mostly the urban areas and armed groups controlling four fifths of the territory 22 . More recently, the signing of the Global Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation marked an imported step in securing a peaceful and stable political process, as President Touadera and his elected Prime Minister Firmin Ngrebada formed a 36-member government in the CAR. Nonetheless, the report of the Secretary-General released on the 17th of June, 201923 described a lack of adherence to the security measures contained in the agreement, as representatives of the armed forces alleged that the recently formed government lacked inclusivity. The armed group representatives then called upon article 34 of the Agreement, which determined that disputes were to be settled by facilitators of the Agreement. As such, the African Union led consultations between the government and the armed groups pertaining to the allocation of governmental posts to representatives of all parties involved in the signing of the Agreement. However, the CAR’s national youth council opposed the inclusion of the armed groups in the government and protests ensued, with other civil groups also opposing the decision.

29. The political dialogue between the government, rebel armed forces and the African Union signals considerable progress made towards establishing a more unified government for years to come. It is also reflective of the joint efforts undertaken by MINUSCA and the local government since 2015 to support the transitional process and create a uniform political system in the CAR. As a result of the work conducted by all such parties, on the 23rd of April, 2019, the CAR’s elected National Assembly

21 World Bank, “The World Bank in the Central African Republic”, Countries Database. Available at http://www.dgacm.org/editorialmanual/ed-guidelines/footnotes/footnotes_chap_04.htm#B (Accessed on 30 April 2019). 22 United Nations News, “Armed groups threaten every child in Central African Republic, UNICEF warns”, 29 November 2018. 23 See (S/2019/498).

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unanimously adopted an electoral code establishing a legal framework for all elections to be held in 2020 and 2021, as discussed in the Secretary-General report24. B. Humanitarian situation

30. The civilian population has suffered the most, with 538,000 people seeking refuge in the neighboring countries of Chad, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo. Another 601,000 were internally displaced in 2018 alone, nearing 1.1 million individuals displaced 25 . According to UNICEF, there are approximately 643,000 children internally displaced, with only 6% having completed the equivalent of high school and more than 43,000 expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition in 201926. The latest report of the Secretary-General27 describes no improvement in the humanitarian situation in the CAR during the reporting period, with approximately 2.9 million people still requiring humanitarian assistance and protection. The CAR continues to be one of the most dangerous countries for humanitarian works, as the report also described that poor infrastructure and obstruction by rebel armed forces continue to make access to humanitarian aid difficult, with a total of 90 incidents affecting humanitarian workers being recorded in 2019, including three deaths.

31. The civilian population bears the brunt of the conflict between the ex-Séléka and Anti- Balaka groups in the central, northwestern and eastern regions, as well as the activities of other rebel factions such as the LRA in the southeast. Sexual violence, burning and sacking of villages, lack of food security and illicit taxation continues on even as the elected government of President Touadera gained control over the region of Bangui and the southwestern area of the country. On August 5th, 2015, the CAR Sanctions Committee added LRA deputies Ali and Salim Kony to the sanctions list under sexual violence accusations. The LRA was also credited with abduction of civilians and recruitment of children for armed forces within the CAR28. As such, the protection of civilians continues to be at the core of the humanitarian aid plan, representing $430.7 million needed to provide assistance to a total of 1.7 million individuals in critical security situations29.

32. The CAR possesses an extremely fragile health system. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 1.3 million people do not have access to secure food supply, increasing the risk of malnutrition. Furthermore, only a third of the population is estimated to have access to essential health services, and most health

24 See (S/2019/498). 25 United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), “Central African Republic situation”, Available at https://www.unhcr.org/central-african-republic-situation.html 26 United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), “Crisis in the Central African Republic”, Child Alert. Available at https://www.unicef.org/child-alert/crisis-central-african-republic (Accessed on 30 April 2019). 27 See (S/2019/498). 28 United Nations News, “Rising insecurity in Central African Republic threatens wider region, Security Council told”, 13 December 2018. 29 See (S/2019/498).

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sector facilities rely on international non-governmental organizations and United Nations agencies30.

33. The CAR currently has the lowest score worldwide on the Global Hunger Index, published by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), with a score of 53.7 in 2018, meaning that over half the country’s population survives in conditions of undernutrition and hunger. The Index considers the impacts of several events, such as the impact of armed conflict and forced displacement in their relation to hunger. Furthermore, as of January 2016, when the World Food Programme (WFP) conducted an emergency assessment that confirmed nearly 2.5 million people faced hunger in the CAR31. The constant attacks have also disrupted several projects by the WFP aimed at obtaining long-term food security in the country, particularly the Purchase for Progress initiative in the city of Paoua (479 km Northwest of the capital Bangui), which offered infrastructure and support provided to local and smallholder farmers to stimulate the business environment32. C. Human rights situation

34. The Human Rights Council Report on the situation of Human Rights in the CAR of issued on the 30th of May 201433, following the establishment of the 2127 CAR Sanctions Committee in 2013, found violations to the right of life, security and physical integrity in the country, particularly in the city of Bangui at the time following the Séléka coalition’s attack. It was reported that 1,500 deaths occurred in the city of Bangui between December 5th and 6th of 2013 alone.

35. The 2014 report also discussed the overcrowded prison of Bangui, which aggravated an already fragile judicial system. Breaches on international humanitarian law were reported in forced displacement of the population, in its majority Muslim, destruction of essential institutions such as health centres, schools and housing, sexual violence and recruitment of children by armed groups.

36. In more recent developments, the charging and arrest of Anti-Balaka leaders by the International Criminal Court in late 2018 and early 2019 marks a considerable step towards reducing impunity after a period of approximately 6 years without concrete charges from the ICC, despite an ongoing investigation on the atrocities committed in the CAR. Former leaders Alfred Yékatom and Patricia Edouard Ngaissona are charged with war crimes including murder, torture, recruitment of children for armed forces and displacement of the civilian population34. The establishment of the Special Criminal Court in the CAR in 2015 is also a significant milestone of progress to limit

30 United Nations World Health Organization, “Central African Republic Humanitarian Response Plan 2017”, Emergencies. Available at: https://www.who.int/emergencies/response-plans/2017/central-african-republic/en/ (Accessed on April 30, 2019). 31 United Nations News, “Half the population of Central African Republic faces hunger, UN warns”, 20 January 2016 32 United Nations World Food Programme, “A Bad New Year for Thousands Struck By Violence in the Central African Republic”, 25 January 2018. 33 See (A/HRC/26/53). 34 International Criminal Court, “Decision on the joinder of the cases against Alfred Yekatom and Patrice- Edouard Ngaïssona and other related matters”, ICC-01/14-01/18/81, 20 February 2019

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impunity in the country35. Furthermore, The Secretary-General reported that human rights violations have decreased in 2019, a factor attributed in part to the signing of the Global Agreement for Peace and National Reconciliation in February, 2019. Despite the improvement, it was reported that signatory groups such as the Anti- Balaka faction continue to engage in human rights abuses against the civilian population36. D. Mission capacities

37. MINUSCA is the current peacekeeping operation underway in the CAR, established under resolution 2149 in 2014, subsuming the former mission UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in the CAR (BINUCA) with the protection of civilians as its priority. Its mandate, extended yearly since its establishment, also included supporting the political transition process and disarmament, facilitating humanitarian aid, protecting human rights and aiding the repatriation process of refugees outside the country. MINUSCA also had authority transferred from the African-led International Support Mission to the CAR (MISCA) under resolution 2149. Funding for MINUSCA is approved on an annual basis by the General Assembly, approved on the 5th of July 201837 and valid budget between July 2018 and June 2019 totaling approximately USD 930 million.

38. As of March 2019, the mission possessed 15,045 in total personnel, with 12,870 being military and police personnel. Peacekeepers came largely from neighboring countries, namely Cameroon and Rwanda. Due to the continuous attacks by the ex-Séléka and Anti-Balaka groups, MINUSCA has to date a total number of 82 fatalities amongst its peacekeepers38.

39. On the 13th of December 2018, the Council released a press statement39 concerning resolution 2448, which extended MINUSCA’s mandate until the 15th of November 2019, reasserting the mission’s role in a peaceful transition to a stable government in the CAR and securing democratic elections for 2020 and 2021. Furthermore, the Council also emphasized the mission’s role in the security sector by reforming, mandating MINUSCA to provide advice and support in the development of a national strategy in coordination with Member States, namely France and other members of the European Union, the United States and the Russian Federation. III. Observations

40. It is clear that the implementation of the Global Peace Agreement adopted on the 14th of February 201940 is of utmost importance in securing a peaceful environment and a stable government. Under the Agreement, the government and the armed groups pledged to work together in the security reform, reviewing the integration of leaders

35 United Nations News, “News in Brief”, 20 January 2016 36 See (S/2019/498). 37 See (A/C.5/72/25). 38 United Nations, “MINUSCA Fact Sheet”, Peacekeeping. Available At https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/mission/minusca (Accessed on 30 April 2019). 39 See (SC/13619). 40 See (S/2019/145).

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and members of armed groups in the governmental structure, in accordance to the framework set by the National Disarmament, Demobilization, Reintegration and Repatriation Programme (PNDRR) developed in consultation with MINUSCA and other international partners. The CAR Sanctions Committee must then consider the renewal and the role the sanctions regime, in order to support the implementation of the Agreement in the coming years in terms of:

a. Individually targeted sanctions and how these measures will affect the potential of cooperation between the government and the armed groups.

b. The role of the arms embargo under a scenario of greater collaboration between armed groups and the government, still considering the violent acts and human rights violations present within the country.

41. The assessment and verification of the key benchmarks determined by the Council in its presidential statement released on the 9th of April (S/PRST/2019/3) in a timely manner, in order to allow the review of the sanction by the 30th of September as determined by the Council, is a crucial step in the renewal of the sanctions regime after its current mandate. Furthermore, the assessment of the key benchmarks demands a new role from all entities that can advise the committee most particularly the Panel of experts and the support it can offer as opposed to other groups, such as the peacekeeping operations and the Secretary-General. The key benchmarks, as established by the Council, are:

a. The progress of an arms registration and management, storage and training protocol for CAR security forces, as well as vetting of members for such forces.

b. The establishment of a protocol for the collection, destruction or transfer of arms and ammunition that fit the description of illicitly held, unregistered or surplus.

c. The process of the implementation of the PNDRR, particularly regarding the reintegration of former leaders and members of armed groups.

d. The government’s commitment to restrict the proliferation of light and small arms, under the initiative “Commission nationale de lutte contre la prolifération des armes légères et de petit calibre” (COMNAT-ALPC).

42. It is imperative that Member States consider the new role the Panel of Experts must take in a context where sanctions are evolving, where individually-targeted sanctions may compromise peace negotiations with members of armed groups, and where the arms embargo may transition to a controlled flow of arms based on the verification of the key benchmarks. Thus, the renewal of the mandate of the Panel for the next year, and the nomination of qualified candidates for vacancies must address the current developments, particularly related to the arms embargo and the potential lifting of it being studied by the CAR Sanctions Committee. The mandate of the Panel must address how the lifting and imposing of sanctions may impact the political process and the reform currently taking place in the CAR. Utilizing all resources available to ensure the Panel of Experts continues to support the Committee and the sanctions

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regime is crucial, such as the support provided by the Security Council Affairs Division in the welcoming of new appointed members to the Panel, as described on the Report of the Security Council established pursuant to resolution 2127 (2013) concerning the CAR released on the 31st of December, 201841. IV. Further Reading

https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/central-african-republic/ Key Security Council Documents on the CAR. Great source to find the progress of the Council’s activities in the CAR with all relevant documents listed.

https://news.un.org/en/focus/central-african-republic United Nations News on the CAR. Great source for the most recent developments and the overall scenario in the country.

https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/2127 Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2127 (2013) concerning the Central African Republic. Online access to detailed descriptions of the sanctions regime.

https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/atf/cf/%7B65BFCF9B-6D27-4E9C-8CD3- CF6E4FF96FF9%7D/central-african-republic-sanctions-fact-sheet.pdf Resolution 2127 (2013) Fact Sheet. Summary of the 2127 Resolution containing all key information concerning the sanctions regime.

https://undocs.org/en/S/2019/145 Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the CAR. Contains the terms of agreement between the government and armed groups, great source to find the context under which it was signed and what it expected for the future.

V. Bibliography

● Security Council, “Chronology of Events Related to the Central African Republic”, Available from https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/chronology/central-african- republic.php

● United Nations, Human Rights Council Resolution 26/53, Technical assistance and capacity-building, Preliminary Report of the Independent Expert on the situation of Human Rights in the Central African Republic, Marie-Thérèse Keita Bocoum, A/HRC/26/53 (May 30, 2014). Available from https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/RegularSessions/Session26/Documents/A _HRC_26_53_ENG_AUV.docx

● United Nations, Security Council, Final Report from the Panel of Experts on the Central African Republic established pursuant to resolution 2399 (2018) addressed to

41 See (S/2018/1136).

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the President of the Security Council, S/2018/1119. Available from https://undocs.org/S/2018/1119

● United Nations, Security Council, Midterm report of the Panel of Experts in accordance with paragraph 32 (c) of resolution 2399 (2018), S/2018/729. Available from https://www.undocs.org/S/2018/729

● United Nations, Security Council, Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic, S/2018/729. Available from https://www.undocs.org/S/2018/729

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