Security situation in Central African Republic still ‘precarious,’ Annan says
9 January 2006 – The security situation in the Central African Republic, which is rebuilding after a civil war, remains
“precarious” and international support for the country is crucial to consolidating stability, United Nations
Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in a report to the Security Council released today.
Mr. Annan also said that despite the fact that “the overall human rights situation was slowly improving,” flagrant
violations still occurred.
Last month, Mr. Annan extended the mandate of the United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office in the Central African
Republic (BONUCA) until the end of 2006 at the request of the Government. And in today’s report, the Secretary-General
repeated the need for the international community to remain engaged in the country.
“The immensity of the task to be accomplished is beyond the capacity of the Central African Republic alone, which is
still recovering from the effects of the politico-military crises and social tensions it has so recently undergone,” the
Secretary-General said.
“Armed gangs continue to interfere with agricultural and commercial activities and precipitate significant population
displacements towards Chad and Cameroon,” Mr. Annan added.
The report also said the crisis in Darfur, in neighbouring Sudan, had made “the security situation all the more
worrisome” in the Central African Republic, while developments in other African countries could also have an impact.
“If the disturbing military and humanitarian developments in some neighbouring countries should escalate they might also
destabilize the Central African Republic, given its geographical position in central Africa,” Mr. Annan warned.