UN Warns Against Premature Peacekeeper Withdrawal from CAR

The United Nations is warning the Security Council against the premature withdrawal of peacekeepers from the Central African Republic. Valentine Rugwabiza, the top UN official in the country, reported a resurgence of deadly violence in the east, specifically citing a June 30 attack on Am-Dafock that displaced 17,000 civilians and injured six peacekeepers.

While the country has made progress in municipal elections and disarmament, instability persists. This volatility is driven by the spillover of the war in Sudan and ongoing activities by the Azandé Ani Kpi Gbé militia and the Lord's Resistance Army, which is suspected of abducting 68 civilians in the southeast.

The UN Secretary-General has recommended a one-year mandate extension for the MINUSCA mission to preserve rapid intervention capabilities. However, the Security Council remains divided on the path forward. The United States is advocating for larger troop reductions, while other members caution that a hasty exit could undermine the critical consolidation phase of the mission.