In Luxembourg on Monday 15 October, the European foreign affairs ministers reviewed the situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) and examined how to increase European support to this country which is "in a difficult situation", according to High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini.
As regards the "very fragile" situation in the CAR, the Council underlined, in its conclusions, the need for the EU to continue its action "alongside" the country, mobilising all the instruments available to it to help the CAR find the path to stability, peace and development, and to respond to the hopes of its people (see EUROPE 12116).
The EU reiterates its support for the African initiative for peace and reconciliation under the aegis of the African Union (AU), and under the leadership of President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, to reach a peace and reconciliation agreement, create conditions for full disarmament of the armed groups and to strengthen the authority of the state, while preserving the country's unity and integrity. It is important to progress swiftly towards the next steps of the peace and reconciliation process, in which all the institutions and actors of Central African society will have to participate, the Council states.
The EU hails the trials started at the criminal court of Bangui, and the progressive operationalisation of the special criminal court – a key step to fight against impunity, the EU says.
The EU also hails the involvement of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) and the resolve of the Security Council to envisage the opportunity of bringing support to the progressive and controlled redeployment of security forces. It says it is ready to work, with the UN and AU, on a joint framework in the CAR.
Furthermore, the Council underlines the need for the EU training mission, EUTM RCA, to be able to work with Central African armed forces (FACA) without being hampered, so as to implement its mandate. Hailing the Central African request to obtain further EU assistance for the internal security forces (FSI), the ministers ask the European External Action Service (EEAS) to continue its operational planning work, with a view to enabling the establishment and deployment of a dedicated interoperability pillar as soon as possible, within the EUTM RCA, which can be tasked with conducting strategic advice actions in this domain. They also recognise the usefulness of continuing the reflection on the opportunity of strengthening EU actions with the FSI through dedicated CSDP civil action. The conclusions state that the Council will come back to this subject in summer 2019, on the basis of EEAS proposals taking account of the initial results of the interoperability pillar and in the framework of a strategic review of the EUTM RCA, the conclusions state.
The EU remains concerned by the humanitarian situation, particularly the displaced or landlocked populations and women and children who suffer from insecurity and violence, and it underlines the need for the international community to mobilise in response to the humanitarian emergency. The Council hails the progress that the 'Bekou' trust fund has made for the reconstruction of the CAR, and it calls for consideration on the fund's future.
The EU calls for further support from the international community and reiterates that it remains strongly committed to the CAR with an envelope of €487 million for the 2017-2020 period. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang with Camille-Cerise Gessant)