At Half-Strength, Un Mission in Central African Republic, Chad Has Limited Ability
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28 July 2009 Security Council SC/9718 Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York Security Council 6172nd Meeting (AM) AT HALF-STRENGTH, UN MISSION IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC, CHAD HAS LIMITED ABILITY TO EXECUTE MILITARY CONCEPT, OFFER SAFETY TO AID WORKERS, SECURITY COUNCIL TOLD Once fully deployed, the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) would be sure to make a difference, the top United Nations official on the ground told the Security Council today. Updating the Council on the developments since authority was transferred from the European Union-led EUFOR bridge force to the United Nations on 15 March, Victor Da Silva Angelo, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT), said that the Force now stood at 46 per cent of its mandated strength. Its slow deployment had limited its ability to effectively execute the military concept of operations and to provide the required safe environment for humanitarian workers, refugees, internally displaced and vulnerable persons, he said. The Secretary-General, in the report before the Council today, stated that in order for MINURCAT to achieve its full force projection and capability, pledges were urgently needed to provide it with needed “enablers”, including 14 of the 18 required military helicopters. While encouraged by recent pledges of troops to replace those departing the Mission, the Secretary-General was also concerned by delays in deployment, which risked creating security gaps. He encouraged Member States to assist troop-contributing countries in acquiring the necessary equipment and expediting the deployment of their contingents. Along with achievements of the new MINURCAT force and progress on the deployment of the Détachement intégré de sécurité (DIS) ‑‑ essentially, a community policing force ‑‑ the Secretary-General’s Special Representative also reported a number of negative developments today, saying that the brief rebel incursion in eastern Chad in May and the fighting that ensued with Government forces had exacerbated the security situation in eastern Chad and opened a fresh opportunity for banditry, which undermined the achievements of EUFOR and MINURCAT. The incursion also contributed to the proliferation of small arms. Also reported in the document was further deterioration of relations between the Governments of Chad and the Sudan following the incursion in eastern Chad. The Dakar process had been at a standstill since November 2008, when the Contact Group met for the last time. The signing of the 3 May Doha agreement by Chad and the Sudan offered renewed hope for the normalization of relations, but those hopes were quickly frustrated. Mr. Angelo said that the relationship between Chad and the Sudan had a critical impact on the situation on both sides of the border. There was an urgent need to de-escalate the situation and resume diplomatic initiatives. The Mission was liaising closely with the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) and was in contact with the Dakar process member states to identify confidence-building measures prior to the meeting of the Contact Group. The rainy season was a window of opportunity for renewed political engagement between Chad and the Sudan, and he encouraged the parties to use that chance to revive the process, including implementation of the border verification mechanism. On the Central African Republic, he said that the situation in the Vakaga region in the north-east of the country had been extremely insecure over the last three months and remained of serious concern as armed groups and bandits continued to operate in the area. The Mission was now fully deployed in the mandated area of operations there, but the gravity of the situation went beyond its capacity to respond. 1 of 12 Members of the Council who spoke following the briefing reiterated their strong support for MINURCAT, which was operating in a difficult environment. They also expressed grave concern over the tense situation on the ground and stressed the need to speed up the political process in the region, which could be facilitated by the Mission’s full deployment. They also welcomed the deployment of the DIS, which, they said, represented a novel approach to ensuring security in and around refugee and internally displaced persons’ camps. Concerns remained, however, with regard to DIS training and equipment. Recent attacks on members of those units had demonstrated the need to enhance their capacity. Several reported cases of their members’ misconduct also required proper attention. Addressing the Council at the end of the debate, Chad’s representative emphasized his country’s determination to resolve its domestic problems, citing a recent agreement with the opposition on the legislative framework for the elections planned for 2010 among the achievements. An agreement had also been reached on the modalities for the establishment of the National Independent Electoral Commission. The launch of a demographic census was another positive step. He also remarked on the signing of an agreement last week with several hundred elements of armed groups that had come from the Sudan, in particular the Mouvement National of Ahmad Assabalah Soubianne. Faced with the Sudanese aggression, his Government remained vigilant, he said. Contrary to the Sudan’s allegations, Chad was not violating its air space or attacking armed groups in Darfur. However, it had carried out air strikes against the forces that had arrived from the Sudan and were assembled along the Chadian side of the border; the international community could not reproach his country for exercising its legitimate right to self-defence. But his country was fully prepared to normalize its relations with the Sudan. The representative of the Central African Republic stressed the need to restore the rule of law, saying that his Government recognized its primary responsibility to save the population from hostilities. There had been talks with rebel groups refusing to enter into reconciliation, and those talks would continue as long as they advanced disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, helped to meet humanitarian needs and promoted economic and social development. He appealed for serious attention to the situation in the north-east region of the country, which formed a triangle of land with parts in the Sudan and Chad, keeping in mind the larger subregional context. Measures should be taken ‑‑ such as disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes ‑‑ to promote stability there. He sought assistance for MINURCAT to facilitate its deployment. Statements were made by the representatives of France, Costa Rica, Burkina Faso, Russian Federation, Japan, Austria, United States, China, Viet Nam, Turkey, Libya, Mexico, United Kingdom, Croatia and Uganda (in his national capacity). The meeting was called to order at 10:15 a.m. and adjourned at 12:20 p.m. Background The Security Council met this morning to consider the situation in Chad, the Central African Republic and the subregion, for which it had before it the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (document S/2009/359). Briefing Updating the Council on the latest developments, VICTOR DA SILVA ANGELO, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT), said that in the framework of the 13 August agreement, the Government of Chad and the democratic opposition had reached a consensus on the laws regulating the status of the opposition and the political parties’ charter. They had also agreed on the Electoral Code and the Commission Electorale Nationale Independante (CENI). Those agreements had allowed for serious progress in terms of the internal political process. Last week, 30 members and the Chairman of CENI had been sworn in. In the same vein, the Government had launched a general population census on 20 May, paving the way for voter registration and constituency delimitation, ahead of national elections. International support for the census also included some logistical assistance from MINURCAT. The results were due to be released shortly. On the security situation, he said that on 4 May, Chadian armed opposition groups under the coalition of Union des Forces de la Resistance (UFR) had launched an attack on Chadian territory from the Sudan. The attack was repelled by the Armée Nationale Tchadienne (ANT) on 7 May, close to Am Dam, forcing the rebels to retreat. As a security measure, MINURCAT had relocated 77 aid workers from Koukou-Angarana to Boz Beida during the armed conflict and had significantly increased patrolling 2 of 12 in all sectors. MINURCAT called on all parties to respect the humanitarian space. Notwithstanding the Doha agreement signed on 4 May by the Governments of Chad and the Sudan, under the aegis of Qatar, the clashes in May had once again strained the relationship between the two countries, he continued. Despite statements by both countries expressing support for the Qatar efforts to end the current tension, new tensions had erupted recently. The relationship between Chad and the Sudan had a critical impact on the situation on both sides of the border. There was an urgent need to de-escalate the situation and resume diplomatic initiatives. The Mission was liaising closely with UNAMID and was in contact with the Dakar Process Member States to try to identify confidence-building measures prior to the forthcoming meeting of the Contact Group. The rainy season was providing a window of opportunity for renewed political engagement between Chad and the Sudan. The parties should use that chance to revive the process, including the implementation of the border verification mechanism. On the Central African Republic, he said that the situation in the Vakaga region in the north-east of the country had been extremely insecure over the last three months and remained of serious concern as armed groups and bandits continued to operate in the area.