Central African President calls for strengthening UN mission in his country

President François Bozizé of the Central African Republic (CAR) today called for a strengthened United Nations peacekeeping mission in his country, which has suffered from violence and instability in several regions, in the face of the imminent departure of a European Union force (EUFOR).

The UN Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) currently has 768 personnel on the ground out of the 1,549 authorized in both countries, but in his latest report earlier this month Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon proposed sending 6,000 troops to replace the 3,000-strong EUFOR, whose mandate is set to expire on 15 March.

“With the end of EUFOR in March 2009 and taking into account the fragility of the situation not only in the north-east but also of the developing insecurity in the south-east, the revision of MINURCAT’s mission and its scope is to be desired,” Mr. Bozizé told the UN General Assembly on the second day of its annual general debate.

Today the Security Council adopted a resolution authorizing an extension of MINURCAT’s mandate through March 2009 and said it intends to authorize the establishment of a UN force to succeed EUFOR.