Security Council welcomes restraint by Central African Republic and Chad

The United Nations Security Council today expressed satisfaction that the Central African Republic (CAR) and Chad are showing restraint and the willingness to settle their differences through political dialogue.

In a press statement issued by Council President Alfonso Valdivieso of Colombia following back-to-back private meetings with senior officials from each country, the 15-member body commended both for agreeing to implement "fully and without delay" the recent agreement reached at the Libreville Summit under the auspices of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CAEMC).

Council members were "particularly encouraged that both parties announced that they would implement without delay…the reactivation of the joint commission, the meeting of the two presidents [and] joint patrolling along the border," Ambassador Valdivieso said.

The Council expressed its hope that both parties would "now seize the opportunity of the CAEMC deployment under the leadership of Gabon, and with the logistical and financial support of France, to normalize their relations as quickly as possible." The statement indicated that the Council would continue to monitor the situation closely.