Brussels, 14/04/2014 (Agence Europe) - The European Union remains greatly concerned about the security and humanitarian crisis in the Central African Republic (CAR) and about the potential impact of this conflict on its neighbouring countries, states the Council in its conclusions adopted in Luxembourg on 14 April - on the sidelines of the meeting of foreign affairs ministers of the 28 EU member states. The EU welcomes as progress the “necessary mobilisation of the whole international community” for the special meeting on the CAR, held in Brussels on 2 April during the EU-African summit (see EUROPE 11052).
The Council hails the launch of the EUFOR RCA military operation, the preliminary elements of which have already been deployed in Bangui. The Council calls for the force generation process (800 men in total) to be finalised and for full operational capacity to be achieved rapidly. It invites Major General Philippe Pontiès, the commander-in-chief of the operation, to deploy this European transitional force “promptly”, in close cooperation with the African MISCA force and the French Sangaris operation. The Council reiterates that this European force, intended to contribute to a secure environment in the region of Bangui with a maximum mandate of six months, will look to pass the baton onto the AU-MISCA operation or to UN troops.
The EU welcomes the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2149 on 10 April, which created the peacekeeping mission in the CAR, known as the United Nations multidimensional integrated stabilisation mission for the CAR (MINUSCA). This will be composed of 12,000 UN troops and its military and police element will take over the baton from MISCA on 15 September. The EU stresses the importance of close cooperation between the CAR authorities, the UN, the African Union (AU), the EU and France in order to facilitate passing on the baton.
The Council notes the decision taken by the Republic of Chad to withdraw its military forces from MISCA, and it encourages the AU to maintain MISCA's operational capacity at the required level, respecting the number of troops established.
The EU asks the CAR authorities to continue the transition by promoting political dialogue and national reconciliation until the presidential and parliamentary elections planned for February 2015 at the latest, and it reiterates its commitment to supporting the preparation of these elections. The EU also reiterates its commitment to supplying emergency aid to the victims of the crisis, and calls on the international community to increase its aid - to the CAR and the neighbouring countries - and calls on all the parties in the conflict to ensure full humanitarian access. (AN)