UN to strengthen peacekeepers in CAR and maintain troops in South Sudan

The UN Security Council on Friday approved a resolution authorizing the deployment of nearly 3,000 additional peacekeepers to the Central African Republic, which continues to be threatened by armed groups attempting to overthrow the government.

Written by France, the resolution was adopted by 14 of the 15 members of the Security Council, with only Russia, which has troops deployed in the country, abstaining, diplomatic sources said.

“We wanted (the) text to mention the UN guiding principles for humanitarian aid,” said Dmitri Polyanskyi, Russia’s ambassador to the UN, who added that attempts by anonymous countries to ” diluting the stringency of humanitarian aid parameters is not acceptable. “

“Russia continues to be guided by the need for close coordination with the governments of recipient countries in the delivery of humanitarian aid to their territory and distribution,” he said.

MINUSCA, as the United Nations mission is called, is one of the largest United Nations peacekeeping operations in the world, with an annual budget of around $ 1 billion.

The resolution provides for an increase of 2,750 additional troops and 940 police. This will bring the total number of forces deployed in the country to 14,400 troops and 3,020 police officers.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said last month that “the Central African Republic stands at a critical juncture which will determine whether peace and stability will be restored and strengthened.”

The Security Council also adopted a resolution extending its peacekeeping mission in South Sudan until March 15, 2022, without changing its strength despite a recent study recommending it be reduced to 15,000 against the current 17,000.

In February of the year, President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar, for years on opposite sides of the battlefield, formed a coalition government after nearly a year of delay and haggling with the international pressure.

The ceasefire they agreed to still stands, but observers say it is growing tense.

The resolution drafted by the United States was approved unanimously, diplomatic sources said.