Thank you, Special Representative Ndiaye for briefing us today on developments in the Central African Republic and the difficulties and dangers facing MINUSCA. I would also like to thank commissioner Adeoye, president Lourenco and director Laranjinha for sharing with us their observations from visiting Central African Republic.
There are two distressing developments I would like to highlight today:
First, Estonia strongly condemns the significant increase in human rights violations and abuses, and the excessive use of force committed by all perpetrators, including armed groups, national defense and security forces, and their Russian partners. The reports of the exploitation of ethnic and religious tensions and execution of innocent civilians is horrifying. While armed groups continue to be responsible for the majority of such incidents, the number of documented human rights abuses by FACA and its partners has almost tripled. The reported indiscriminate and excessive use of force, including summary executions, conflict related sexual violence and looting severely undermines attempts at establishing national cohesion and reconciliation. Unfortunately, such behavior has already spilled across borders and led to clashes and casualties with Chadian forces.
Second, the hostile threats and incidents by the national security forces and their partners targeting MINUSCA and United Nations staff are utterly unacceptable. Such actions violate Security Council resolutions and the commitments made as part of the Status of Forces Agreement. It unnecessarily hinders MINUSCA from protecting civilians and obstructs humanitarian aid at a time when the food security of the people of Central African Republic is the worst it’s ever been. It also endangers the safety and security of United Nations peacekeepers and staff. Such hostile actions must stop immediately and accountability for these violations must be established. With more different security actors active on the ground, it is particularly important to ensure coordination of activities in order to avoid unwanted and completely avoidable clashes in the field.
These two developments pose great challenges to the new government of CAR, undermining its authority and the prospects of peace in the country. Estonia joins the call for the rapid revitalization of reconciliation and political dialogue and supports the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in these processes. I would like to finish by commending the efforts by the Guarantors and Facilitators of the Political Peace and Reconciliation Agreement and the active support of regional initiatives towards peace in Central Africa.
