Central African Republic: Statement During UN Peacebuilding Commission Meeting

Thank you, Chair, for convening this meeting and for your continued efforts on this file.

Thanks also to you, briefers, for the overview of the electoral, political and security situation, including the peacebuilding challenges, in the Central African Republic. The recent high-level joint visit (2-5 June 2021) to Bangui by representatives of the AU, UN, ECCAS and EU is an important signal of international engagement and support to the people of CAR. We hope the outcomes will further encourage inclusive political dialogue to revitalize the peace process, national recovery and peacebuilding efforts.

Free and fair elections are undoubtedly an important step towards peace and democracy. Kenya commends the Government and the people of the CAR for holding the December elections against many formidable odds. We hope the same commitment will be directed towards the upcoming local elections.

CAR, like many countries in the sub-region, is tackling the COVID-19 pandemic within the context of increasing environmental challenges, the threat of violent extremism, increasing human movement and displacement, and natural-resource-based conflicts. We urge the continued utilization of the bridging and mobilizing mandate of the PBC to support the country in building resilience, with a focus on youth and women's economic empowerment as well as meaningful integration of IDPs and refugees. Coordinated long-term efforts towards decentralization and strong governance, reinforced by functional infrastructure, are also important democratic elements. These will further reinforce the citizenry's trust in their national authority's ability to deliver basic service goods, particularly against the backdrop of surging food prices and declining agricultural production.

We reiterate our strong support for MINUSCA's fundamental role in supporting the CAR authorities and people in their quest to achieve lasting peace and stability, including in the area of DDR and national reconciliation. We reiterate our strongest condemnation of the attacks that continue to be perpetrated by the CPC (Coalition des Patriotes pour le Changement) and other affiliated armed groups on civilian populations, humanitarian personnel and peacekeepers. We also call for the cessation of disinformation and confrontational rhetoric by all parties. We commend the CAR national authorities for their commitment to ending these acts and conducting a review of CAR's national security sector reform strategy.

Kenya also welcomes the continued advice to the Security Council from the PBC regarding inclusive dialogue and the enhancement of the comprehensive implementation of the 2019 Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation. At the regional level, Kenya urges continued cooperation with the AU and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS). Kenya commends the region's commitment as expressed in the personal visit of the Angolan President and Chairperson of the ICGLR to New York to brief the Security Council, alongside the remarks by the representative of ECCAS during the June 23 briefing on MINUSCA. We also urge the PBC to pay particular attention to the outcomes and recommendations from the AU Peace and Security Council's field mission to the CAR from June 28 to July 1, 2021. These, alongside the resources emanating from the ICGLR and ECCAS, particularly regarding the peacebuilding elements pertaining to the implementation of the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation, are bound to provide practical benchmarks to advance peace and development processes in the CAR and cross-border stability with neighboring countries.