UN / CAR
21-Feb-2023
00:03:51
The head of the UN Mission in the Central African Republic, Valentine Rugwabiza, said, “We are seeing progress as a result of the Government’s increased ownership, such as in the preparations for the local elections, the reform of the security sector, the extension of State authority and the adoption of an operational framework for border management.” UNIFEED
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STORY: UN / CAR
TRT: 03:51
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: FRENCH / ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 21 FEBRUARY 2023, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
TRT: 03:51
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: FRENCH / ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 21 FEBRUARY 2023, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
SHOTLIST
FILE - NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, UN headquarters exterior
21 FEBRUARY 2023, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, Security Council
3. SOUNDBITE (French) Omar Hilale, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Morocco/ Chairperson, Central African Republic country-specific configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission:
“The resurgence of armed groups' activities in certain areas of the Central African Republic and the pressure on the country's public finances are leading to the deterioration of the security and socio-economic environments and inflicting a heavy toll on the civilian population. However, despite the persistence of many challenges, we have witnessed encouraging positive developments over the past period. These developments should be capitalized on to sustain and strengthen the country's commitment to recovery.”
4. Med shot, Hilale sitting
5. SOUNDBITE (French) Omar Hilale, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Morocco/ Chairperson, Central African Republic country-specific configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission:
“I cannot stress enough that the country is at a critical moment in its history and will need our continued support to ensure a return to lasting peace and sustained stability.”
6. Wide shot, Security Council
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Valentine Rugwabiza, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA):
“While we would always wish to realize peace quickly, we are seeing progress as a result of the Government’s increased ownership, such as in the preparations for the local elections, the reform of the security sector, the extension of State authority, and the adoption of an operational framework for border management. This is welcome as the Central African population faces a myriad of challenges, compounded by a worsening socioeconomic situation.”
8. Wide shot, Security Council
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Valentine Rugwabiza, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA):
“There are still opportunities for further advancing implementation of the peace and political process and sustaining its gains. This will require more commitment and engagement of CAR’s partners, including the sub-region. A significant opportunity is the upcoming local elections, which will be the first in CAR since 1988.”
10. Wide shot, Security Council
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Valentine Rugwabiza, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA):
“Central African authorities have lifted the ban on night flights for MINUSCA since December 2022. I appreciate the good working atmosphere and cooperation that enabled a resolution of this matter, which posed serious risks for United Nations personnel. However, I regret to inform the members of this Council that earlier this month, the Ministry of Defense issued a circular banning all drone flights in CAR, except by the national defense and security forces.”
12. Med shot, delegates
13. SOUNDBITE (French) Sylvie Valérie Baipo-Temon, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Francophonie and Central Africans abroad, Central African Republic:
“CAR’s context requires that we cannot neglect the errors and shortcomings which have complicated the political and security situation. We need to put in place an operation whose goal is to impose peace and stability to solve the problems of precarity that we are facing and, therefore, to solve human rights violations; we need to solve the problems of disinformation and incitement to hatred by offering the population healthy and genuine alternatives and not mere dreams.”
14. Wide shot, Security Council
1. Wide shot, UN headquarters exterior
21 FEBRUARY 2023, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, Security Council
3. SOUNDBITE (French) Omar Hilale, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Morocco/ Chairperson, Central African Republic country-specific configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission:
“The resurgence of armed groups' activities in certain areas of the Central African Republic and the pressure on the country's public finances are leading to the deterioration of the security and socio-economic environments and inflicting a heavy toll on the civilian population. However, despite the persistence of many challenges, we have witnessed encouraging positive developments over the past period. These developments should be capitalized on to sustain and strengthen the country's commitment to recovery.”
4. Med shot, Hilale sitting
5. SOUNDBITE (French) Omar Hilale, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Morocco/ Chairperson, Central African Republic country-specific configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission:
“I cannot stress enough that the country is at a critical moment in its history and will need our continued support to ensure a return to lasting peace and sustained stability.”
6. Wide shot, Security Council
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Valentine Rugwabiza, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA):
“While we would always wish to realize peace quickly, we are seeing progress as a result of the Government’s increased ownership, such as in the preparations for the local elections, the reform of the security sector, the extension of State authority, and the adoption of an operational framework for border management. This is welcome as the Central African population faces a myriad of challenges, compounded by a worsening socioeconomic situation.”
8. Wide shot, Security Council
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Valentine Rugwabiza, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA):
“There are still opportunities for further advancing implementation of the peace and political process and sustaining its gains. This will require more commitment and engagement of CAR’s partners, including the sub-region. A significant opportunity is the upcoming local elections, which will be the first in CAR since 1988.”
10. Wide shot, Security Council
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Valentine Rugwabiza, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA):
“Central African authorities have lifted the ban on night flights for MINUSCA since December 2022. I appreciate the good working atmosphere and cooperation that enabled a resolution of this matter, which posed serious risks for United Nations personnel. However, I regret to inform the members of this Council that earlier this month, the Ministry of Defense issued a circular banning all drone flights in CAR, except by the national defense and security forces.”
12. Med shot, delegates
13. SOUNDBITE (French) Sylvie Valérie Baipo-Temon, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Francophonie and Central Africans abroad, Central African Republic:
“CAR’s context requires that we cannot neglect the errors and shortcomings which have complicated the political and security situation. We need to put in place an operation whose goal is to impose peace and stability to solve the problems of precarity that we are facing and, therefore, to solve human rights violations; we need to solve the problems of disinformation and incitement to hatred by offering the population healthy and genuine alternatives and not mere dreams.”
14. Wide shot, Security Council
STORYLINE
The head of the UN Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), Valentine Rugwabiza, said, “We are seeing progress as a result of the Government’s increased ownership, such as in the preparations for the local elections, the reform of the security sector, the extension of State authority and the adoption of an operational framework for border management.”
Briefing the Security Council today (21 Feb), Rugwabiza noted that there are still opportunities for further advancing the implementation of the peace and political process and sustaining its gains.
She continued, “This will require more commitment and engagement of CAR’s partners, including the sub-region. A significant opportunity is the upcoming local elections, which will be the first in CAR since 1988.”
She reported that CAR experienced a period of relative stability and calm during the rainy season, but since December -- with the onset of the dry season – armed groups have increased their activities and attacks.
According to Rugwabiza, the resurgence in violence showed new developments in the modus operandi of armed groups, namely the use of explosive devices and drones, negatively impacting the population, national security forces, humanitarian actors, and United Nations peacekeepers.
For example, on 6 February, an explosive ordnance detonated near Nzakoun village, killing two Central African soldiers and a civilian.
On 10 February, an explosive ordnance wounded six civilians near Manga. The use of explosive devices is primarily concentrated in western CAR.
There have also been other concerning security developments, including increasing attacks against the positions of national defence forces.
Most recently, on 14 February, armed groups attacked a detachment of national armed forces deployed in Sikikédé, Vakaga Prefecture, killing 16 soldiers and kidnapping 20 others.
These new threats have impacted the already complex security environment, which requires MINUSCA to maintain flexibility and mobility to respond to the evolving threats against civilians effectively.
The Special Representative also reported that the Central African authorities have lifted the ban on night flights for MINUSCA since December 2022.
She said, “I appreciate the good working atmosphere and cooperation that enabled a resolution of this matter, which posed serious risks for United Nations personnel.”
However, she continued, “I regret to inform the members of this Council that earlier this month, the Ministry of Defense issued a circular banning all drone flights in CAR, except by the national defense and security forces.”
As Central Africans are acutely impacted by the socio-economic crisis, the humanitarian crisis in CAR continues to worsen.
The World Food Program projects that the percentage of the Central African population suffering from acute food insecurity will increase from 44 percent in 2022, already one of the highest in the world, to 49 percent in 2023.
This has the greatest impact on the most vulnerable.
Most of the Central African population depends on humanitarian assistance for survival.
On 9 February, the Prime Minister and the DSRSG/HC/RC launched the Joint Humanitarian Response Plan for 2023, with $465 million to be mobilized for life-saving interventions.
Also briefing the council today, Omar Hilale, Chairperson of the Central African Republic country-specific configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission, said that the resurgence of armed groups' activities in certain areas of the Central African Republic and the pressure on the country's public finances are leading to the deterioration of the security and socio-economic environments and inflicting a heavy toll on the civilian population.
However, he continued, “despite the persistence of many challenges, we have witnessed encouraging positive developments over the past period. These developments should be capitalized on to sustain and strengthen the country's commitment to recovery.”
Hilale also stressed that the country is at a critical moment in its history and “will need our continued support to ensure a return to lasting peace and sustained stability.”
Representing her country at the Security Council today, Sylvie Valérie Baipo-Temon, Central African Minister for Foreign Affairs, Francophonie and Central Africans abroad, said, “CAR’s context requires that we cannot neglect the errors and shortcomings which have complicated the political and security situation.”
She continued, “We need to put in place an operation whose goal is to impose peace and stability to solve the problems of precarity that we are facing and, therefore, to solve human rights violations; we need to solve the problems of disinformation and incitement to hatred by offering the population healthy and genuine alternatives and not mere dreams.”
Briefing the Security Council today (21 Feb), Rugwabiza noted that there are still opportunities for further advancing the implementation of the peace and political process and sustaining its gains.
She continued, “This will require more commitment and engagement of CAR’s partners, including the sub-region. A significant opportunity is the upcoming local elections, which will be the first in CAR since 1988.”
She reported that CAR experienced a period of relative stability and calm during the rainy season, but since December -- with the onset of the dry season – armed groups have increased their activities and attacks.
According to Rugwabiza, the resurgence in violence showed new developments in the modus operandi of armed groups, namely the use of explosive devices and drones, negatively impacting the population, national security forces, humanitarian actors, and United Nations peacekeepers.
For example, on 6 February, an explosive ordnance detonated near Nzakoun village, killing two Central African soldiers and a civilian.
On 10 February, an explosive ordnance wounded six civilians near Manga. The use of explosive devices is primarily concentrated in western CAR.
There have also been other concerning security developments, including increasing attacks against the positions of national defence forces.
Most recently, on 14 February, armed groups attacked a detachment of national armed forces deployed in Sikikédé, Vakaga Prefecture, killing 16 soldiers and kidnapping 20 others.
These new threats have impacted the already complex security environment, which requires MINUSCA to maintain flexibility and mobility to respond to the evolving threats against civilians effectively.
The Special Representative also reported that the Central African authorities have lifted the ban on night flights for MINUSCA since December 2022.
She said, “I appreciate the good working atmosphere and cooperation that enabled a resolution of this matter, which posed serious risks for United Nations personnel.”
However, she continued, “I regret to inform the members of this Council that earlier this month, the Ministry of Defense issued a circular banning all drone flights in CAR, except by the national defense and security forces.”
As Central Africans are acutely impacted by the socio-economic crisis, the humanitarian crisis in CAR continues to worsen.
The World Food Program projects that the percentage of the Central African population suffering from acute food insecurity will increase from 44 percent in 2022, already one of the highest in the world, to 49 percent in 2023.
This has the greatest impact on the most vulnerable.
Most of the Central African population depends on humanitarian assistance for survival.
On 9 February, the Prime Minister and the DSRSG/HC/RC launched the Joint Humanitarian Response Plan for 2023, with $465 million to be mobilized for life-saving interventions.
Also briefing the council today, Omar Hilale, Chairperson of the Central African Republic country-specific configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission, said that the resurgence of armed groups' activities in certain areas of the Central African Republic and the pressure on the country's public finances are leading to the deterioration of the security and socio-economic environments and inflicting a heavy toll on the civilian population.
However, he continued, “despite the persistence of many challenges, we have witnessed encouraging positive developments over the past period. These developments should be capitalized on to sustain and strengthen the country's commitment to recovery.”
Hilale also stressed that the country is at a critical moment in its history and “will need our continued support to ensure a return to lasting peace and sustained stability.”
Representing her country at the Security Council today, Sylvie Valérie Baipo-Temon, Central African Minister for Foreign Affairs, Francophonie and Central Africans abroad, said, “CAR’s context requires that we cannot neglect the errors and shortcomings which have complicated the political and security situation.”
She continued, “We need to put in place an operation whose goal is to impose peace and stability to solve the problems of precarity that we are facing and, therefore, to solve human rights violations; we need to solve the problems of disinformation and incitement to hatred by offering the population healthy and genuine alternatives and not mere dreams.”
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