The situation in the Central African Republic 28 October 2025As deliveredMister President of the Security Council,Distinguished Members of the Council,Ambassador Nzessioué, Permanent Representative of the Central African Republic to the United NationsMister President,
1. I would like to congratulate the Russian Federation on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for the month of October. I thank you for chairing personally this session, which is of particular importance as we approach the vote on MINUSCA’s mandate renewal.
2. At the outset, I would like to express my deepest condolences to troop- and police-contributing countries for all peacekeepers who passed away in the line of duty during the reporting period, including five peacekeepers from our Congo FPU who lost their lives in a tragic accident near Damara, 115 kilometres north of Bangui. We honour the memory and service of our fallen peacekeepers and extend our heartfelt compassion to their families and governments.
Mr. President, Distinguished Members of the Council,
3. I am once more honoured to present the latest report of the Secretary-General on the situation in the Central African Republic, and to inform the Council of MINUSCA’s main achievements in implementing its multifaceted mandate in a context of complex challenges, as well as opportunities to consolidate gains made thus far. I will address recent developments in the peace process and preparations for the 28 December elections, followed by an update on the security situation, including the spillover of the conflict in neighbouring Sudan.
Mister President,
4. The peace process has regained momentum and witnessed significant progress since the 19 April ceasefire agreement, which was facilitated by Chad and signed between Central African Government and the two most active armed groups in the country, namely Unité pour la paix en Centrafrique (UPC) and the Retour, réclamation et réhabilitation (3R). On 10 July, President Faustin Archange Touadéra chaired a ceremony in Bangui with the participation of 3R and UPC leaders as well as the guarantors and facilitators of the Political Agreement, to mark the return of the 3R and UPC to the peace process. On 7 October, President Touadéra chaired another ceremony during which the Ngaïssona wing of the anti-balaka and the Révolution and justice–Sayo officially dissolved. With these dissolutions, 11 of the 14 of the armed groups signatories to the Political Agreement are now officially dissolved.
5. The implementation of the 19 April agreement and subsequent disarmament and demobilization operations have translated in tangible security gains in several areas in the centre and northwest of the country. Since July 2025, MINUSCA provided enhanced support to the national entity responsible for disarmament and demobilization, enabling immediate disarmament operations in several prefectures. MINUSCA logistical, security and technical support, resulted in over 700 UPC, 3R and anti-balaka combatants been disarmed and demobilized since July 2025.Mr. President, Distinguished Members of the Council,
6. The presidential, legislative, regional and municipal elections scheduled for 28 December will be a turning point to extend and consolidate State authority as well as anchor institutional stability. MINUSCA has continued providing multifaceted electoral assistance as mandated, as the electoral cycle has entered an active and decisive phase.
7. On 23 August, the National Elections Authority announced that the voters list was finalized. Over 2.3 million Central Africans registered, 47.2 per cent of whom are women. On 29 September, President Touadéra convened the electorate to the vote. From 2 to 11 October, registration of candidates, including for presidential, for all four elections took place.
8. The momentum in the preparations for the upcoming combined elections has been driven by the Central African Government’s sustained political commitment. On 30 September, the Government pledged an additional $7.8 million to the UNDP Basket Fund, enabling electoral preparations to continue. Yet a funding gap of about $12 million persists. I appeal to partners for urgent resources so that the elections can be held in a timely manner. I appeal to the Government of Central African Republic, the national authority of elections, the judiciary institutions, and the Constitutional Council to fulfil their respective responsibilities to ensure that elections are peaceful, inclusive, and transparent.
Mr. President,
9. While the security situation has improved in some parts of the country, the situation remains challenging in the southeast and northeast border areas, notably in the Haut-Mbomou and Vakaga prefectures. From 2 to 3 October, I visited Birao and Am Dafock, at the border with Sudan, as the spillover from the conflict in Sudan intensified, including increased cross-border incursions by Sudanese armed elements. These incursions and attacks on villages caused mass civilian displacement around MINUSCA’s temporary operating base in Am Dafock. During my visit to Am Daffock, I reiterated MINUSCA’s full commitment to protect civilians and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Interventions by MINUSCA’s Force, coupled with our engagement with local communities and leaders, contributed to the voluntary return of most the displaced persons in Am Dafock to their communities.
10. In the Haut-Mbomou prefecture, southeast of the country at the border with South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the situation remains fragile due to persistent insecurity and intercommunal tensions due to Azande Ani Kpi Gbe activities targeting national defense and security forces, civilians, and even MINUSCA. Heightened security risks have impacted humanitarian actors, while causing displacement of the population to Zapai in neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo. On 15 October, Joyce Msuya, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, visited Birao and Zemio and underscored the need for sustained humanitarian assistance in the Central African Republic in light of the regional impact of the war in Sudan.
Mr. President,
11. In a positive development, on 27 September, the command of the joint Central African Republic and Chad force was installed in Sarh, southern of Chad, paving the way for its operationalization to secure the common border between Chad and the Central African Republic.12. MINUSCA continues to make progress in supporting the extension of State authority throughout the country, supporting the deployment of governors, prefects and sub-prefects. MINUSCA continues to provide logistical support for the deployment and extension of the presence of defence and internal security forces across the Central African territory, including to most remote border prefectures. However, additional support is critically needed to reinforce national defence and security institutions’ operational capacities and pave the way for a gradual, sustainable handover of security tasks currently been handled by MINUSCA.
Mr. President, Distinguished Members of the Council,
13. MINUSCA remains central in the consolidation of security and peace gains made in the Central African Republic, which were made possible with the critical, active and unified support of this Council. MINUSCA’s mandate, with its full authorized strength, remains essential to support the Central Africans in their quest to lasting peace, but also serves as a critical buffer against the broad regional instability that continues to affect the subregion.
14. Earlier this month, MINUSCA started to implement liquidity contingency measures due to the funding shortfalls impacting all peacekeeping operations. We have been instructed to achieve a 15% reduction of expenditures for the current 2025/2026 fiscal year and we are doing so through an immediate reduction of uniformed and civilian personnel, and by curtailing some activities and operations. This poses significant challenges for the effective delivery of the mandate given to us by this Council at a very critical and sensitive period for the Central African Republic. In the context, we are prioritizing support for the protection of civilians; the electoral process, which will conclude in mid-2026; and the peace process, including ongoing disarmament and demobilization efforts.
15. The months ahead will be decisive. The current security and political context in the Central African Republic should inform decisions on the renewal of MINUSCA’s mandate. I echo the Secretary-General’s recommendation that the Council extend MINUSCA’s mandate for one year at its current authorized strength.Mr. President, Distinguished Members of the Council,
16. I would like to conclude by expressing once more my profound gratitude to the civilian and uniformed personnel of MINUSCA, and to the UN Country Team, for their dedication to peace, security and stabilization in the Central African Republic, in extremely challenging conditions. I deeply appreciate the Mission’s troop- and police-contributing countries, and I thank regional, multilateral, non-governmental organizations, as well as donor countries, for their invaluable and generous contributions to peace and stability in the Central African Republic.
I thank you very much for your kind attention.