Security Sector Reform in the Central African Republic: Challenges and Priorities High-level dialogue on building support for key SSR priorities in the Central African Republic, 21-22 June 2016 Cover Photo: High-level dialogue on SSR in the CAR at the United Nations headquarters on 21 June 2016. Panellists in the center of the photograph from left to right: Adedeji Ebo, Chief, SSRU/OROLSI/DPKO; Jean Willybiro-Sako, Special Minister-Counsellor to the President of the Central African Republic for DDR/SSR and National Reconciliation; Miroslav Lajčák, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic; Joseph Yakété, Minister of Defence of Central African Republic; Mr. Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the Central African Republic and Head of MINUSCA. Photo: Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic The report was produced by the Security Sector Reform Unit, Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions, Department of Peacekeeping Operations, United Nations. © United Nations Security Sector Reform Unit, 2016 Map of the Central African Republic 14° 16° 18° 20° 22° 24° 26° AmAm Timan Timan The boundaries and names shown and the designations é oukal used on this map do not implay official endorsement or CENTRAL AFRICAN A acceptance by the United Nations. t a SUDAN lou REPUBLIC m u B a a l O h a r r S h Birao e a l r B Al Fifi 'A 10 10 h r ° a a ° B b C h a VAKAGA r i CHAD Sarh k Garba Sarh Bahr Aou CENTRAL Ouanda AFRICAN Djallé REPUBLIC Doba BAMINGUI-BANGORAN Sam Ouandja Maïkouma Ndélé SOUTH i Ouadda 8 u 8 ° Goré g Kaouadja ° n SUDAN i b B Kabo i a r m i Bamingui na Markounda G n Vi g ui Batangafo HAUTE-KOTTO Bocaranga Kaga Bandoro Yangalia to ot OUHAM NANA GRÉBIZI K OUHAM-PENDÉ m Mbrès Bria HAUT- a Bouca Yalinga uh o O OUAKA k n MBOMOU Dékoa i Bossangoa h C Bozoum Ippy Djéma i 6 KÉMO r 6 ° Bouar a ° Bambari b a M r Baoro Ouar Baboua Sibut Grimari NANA-MAMBÉRÉ Bakouma M Obo a Bossembélé MBOMOU m M b angúi Zémio b er ub Mingala om e OMBELLA-MPOKO ka ou O Oua Rafaï Damara Kouango BASSE Carnot KOTTO Bangassou HAUTEMAMBERE-KADEI SANGHA National capital Mobaye Ouango Berberati Boda Préfecture capital L Bangui o Town, village b LOBAYE K ei Gamboula a 4 4 ad ye Major airport ° ° Mbaïki Uele SANGHA Mongoumba Bondo International boundary YokadoumaYokadouma Tomori Nola ngala Undetermined boundary* Mo MBAERE BusingaBusinga Préfecture boundary Salo MainTitule road 0 50 100 150 200 250 km Secondary road DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC a h 0 50 100 150 mi Railroad CAMEROONCAMEROON g Buta n a OF THE CONGO S i * Final boundary between the Republic of the Sudan g n Bumba and the Republic of South Sudan has not yet been a LisalaLisala b go determined. U Con 2° CONGO 2° 16° 18° 20° 22° 24° 26° Map No. 4048 Rev. 8 UNITED NATIONS Department of Field Support June 2016 Geospatial Information Section (formerly Cartographic Section) Map l i Foreword Many political and military crises over the of a professional gendarmerie and police years have afflicted our country and caused is essential to build sustainable peace and both serious violations of human rights security in the country. The security sector and insecurity throughout our land. These in particular can make an effective con- crises have also made the security sector tribution to the protection of people and institutions more fragile. The international securing the land and borders. A revital- community has had to intervene to help ized SSR process offers an opportunity to protect both our people and the country, transform the security sector into one that and a number of strategies on security is more accountable, representative, effec- sector reform have been tried. These, how- tive and efficient. And today, senior offi- ever, have failed thus far and the cycle of cials of the state institutions are working to violence and insecurity persists. The peo- ensure that the new SSR process succeeds. ple of the CAR, who have been brutalized We are already cooperating with multilat- by so much fighting, are waiting for more eral partners and civil society to that end. effective and professional security forces But the efforts made by all of these Gov- which are under civilian control and ac- ernment institutions and actors can bene- countable to the National Assembly. In this fit from technical and financial support. In respect, the importance and timeliness of this respect, we look forward to the donor the high-level dialogue on SSR in the CAR conference in Brussels this November, and cannot be overstated, and we are particu- hope that the international community larly grateful to the United Nations Group will respond to the needs expressed by the of Friends of SSR and to the Government of Government, and supported by the United Slovakia for facilitating this dialogue. Nations and other partners. Since his election earlier this year, President Jean Willybiro-Sako Touadéra has focused on national reconcil- Special Minister-Counsellor iation, and to attain his goals, he has taken to the President of the CAR for DDR, on the issue of insecurity. The reform of the SSR and National Reconciliation security sector will be a part of the national Bangui reconciliation process. The development October 2016 Foreword l iii SECURITY SECTOR REFORM IN THE CAR: CHALLENGES AND PRIORITIES A Word From: Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, Special Representative of the Secretary- General for the Central African Republic and Head of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) Security is a key challenge to restoring security forces have a loose structure, an peace and stability in the Central African unbalanced ethnic distribution, a lack of Republic, and one of MINUSCA’s main pri- command, and overall poor management. orities is to assist the CAR in reforming its They still have a long way to go before they national vision of security. The security of reach commonly accepted standards for the people and the state, which is at the such institutions. Furthermore, the security heart of the political dynamic in the CAR, institutions have been at the heart of the touches on democratic rules and good problem in CAR, and they must therefore governance through the distribution of also be an essential part of the solution to tasks and the delineation of responsibili- the problems in the country. ties assigned to respective security institu- tions involved in providing protection. The There is no doubt that the ability of the in- high-level dialogue on building support ternational community to address the issue for key SSR priorities in the Central African of SSR is central to its long-term efforts in Republic both revealed and confirmed support of the CAR’s democratization, na- the political nature of SSR in the CAR and tional reconciliation and security stabiliza- the challenges that lie ahead. To date, the tion. Implementing a coherent and realistic high-level dialogue represents the most SSR strategy represents a key process and important platform on SSR issues in the a powerful enabler in support of MINUS- CAR since the election of the new CAR CA’s mandate. And while the high-level Government. The dialogue paved the way dialogue clearly demonstrated the political for the formulation of the national SSR will of the CAR national authorities to tackle commitments in the Cadre d’engagement the challenging issues, it also showed that mutuel (Mutual Accountability Framework) significant work lies ahead both politically and the part on SSR of the National Plan for and in terms of resources. Past SSR efforts Recovery and Peacebuilding, which Presi- have failed not only because of political dent Touadéra will present at the Novem- challenges, but also in part due to the inter- ber Brussels donor conference on the CAR. national community’s lack of financial com- I am hopeful that the Brussels event will mitment for SSR efforts. It is therefore my respond positively to the needs identified sincere hope that donors can provide the at the New York dialogue. much needed financial support for the SSR activities that will help to restore peace and The security institutions are meant to pro- stability in the country, and that will help to tect not only the public institutions, but shape a brighter future for the Central Afri- also all the citizens of the CAR, irrespective can Republic. of their ethnicity, religion and traditions, or cultural and political affiliation. Howev- Bangui er, currently the CAR armed and internal October 2016 iv l A Word From Foreword Since its establishment in 2007, the United will add to the growing body of knowl- Nations Group of Friends of SSR has played edge and lessons on the support to SSR a key role in facilitating and promoting se- in post-conflict contexts. As noted by the curity sector reform as a key item on the Security Council, for SSR to be successful, United Nations agenda. The high-level it is essential to strengthen partnerships dialogue on SSR in the Central African Re- among national, multilateral and bilateral public is the first country-specific meeting partners, and in this respect the involve- of the Group of Friends on a high level after ment of numerous partners in the dialogue, years of consensus building on a normative including from the World Bank and the Eu- basis of SSR within the United Nations. As ropean Union, was significant. Our previ- co-Chairs, Slovakia and South Africa are ous discussions within the Group of Friends very proud to have had the opportunity had highlighted that SSR is firmly linked to to facilitate this important event, and are peace and transition processes, and the di- grateful to the Security Sector Reform Unit alogue on the CAR provided us with an op- in the Office of Rule of Law and Security portunity to discuss the ways in which the Institutions, Department of Peacekeeping United Nations can support the on-going Operations, for the close cooperation and political processes surrounding SSR in the moderation of the event.