Communique of the 1338th meeting of the PSC, held on 9 April 2026, on: Consideration of the Situation in the Central African Rep

Communique of the 1338th meeting of the PSC, held on 9 April 2026, on: Consideration of the Situation in the Central African Republic (CAR)-African Union - Peace and Security Department Português Kiswahili عربي Webmail AU_Home Partners Subscribe_Now Rss Flickr +251.11 5513 822 Communique of the 1338th meeting of the PSC, held on 9 April 2026, on: Consideration of the Situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) COMMUNIQUE? Adopted by the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), at its 1338th meeting, held on 9 April 2026, on: Consideration of the Situation in the Central African Republic (CAR): The Peace and Security Council, Recalling all its previous pronouncements and decisions on the Situation in the Central African Republic (CAR), in particular, Communiques [PSC/PR/COMM 1302 (2025)] adopted at its 1302nd meeting held on 19 September 2025; [PSC/PR/COMM.1221 (2024)] adopted at its 1221st meeting held on 11 July 2024 and [PSC/PR/COMM.1157 (2023)] adopted at its 1157th meeting held on 13 June 2023; Reaffirming the AU’s unwavering commitment to respect the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and national unity of the CAR; as well as the AU solidarity and commitment to continue accompanying the people of the CAR in their legitimate quest for restoring durable peace, security, stability, development, and democratic governance, in the promotion of national reconciliation, and in their search for consensual solutions to the challenges facing their country; Also reaffirming the critical role of the AU as a guarantor of the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic (PAPR-CAR) signed on 6 February 2019, in Khartoum, Sudan, by the Government of the CAR and fourteen (14) armed groups; Taking note of the Opening Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Hirut Zemene Kassa, the Permanent Representative of the  Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia  to the African Union (AU) as PSC Chairperson for the month of April 2026;  the Statement by H.E. Ambassador Alice Nzomukunda, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the Commission for CAR, and also  the statements  by the representatives of the Central African Republic, the Economic Community of the Central African States (ECCAS), and by  H.E. Mr. Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, Special Representative  of the United Nations Secretary-General to the AU and Head of the UN Office to the AU (UNOAU); and Listen to this article (Press F7) comments COMMUNIQUE? Adopted by the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), at its 1338 th meeting, held on 9 April 2026, on: Consideration of the Situation in the Central African Republic (CAR): The Peace and Security Council, Recalling all its previous pronouncements and decisions on the Situation in the Central African Republic (CAR), in particular, Communiques [ PSC/PR/COMM 1302 (2025) ] adopted at its 1302 nd meeting held on 19 September 2025; [ PSC/PR/COMM.1221 (2024) ] adopted at its 1221st meeting held on 11 July 2024 and [ PSC/PR/COMM.1157 (2023) ] adopted at its 1157th meeting held on 13 June 2023; Reaffirming the AU’s unwavering commitment to respect the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and national unity of the CAR; as well as the AU solidarity and commitment to continue accompanying the people of the CAR in their legitimate quest for restoring durable peace, security, stability, development, and democratic governance, in the promotion of national reconciliation, and in their search for consensual solutions to the challenges facing their country; Also reaffirming the critical role of the AU as a guarantor of the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic (PAPR-CAR) signed on 6 February 2019, in Khartoum, Sudan, by the Government of the CAR and fourteen (14) armed groups; Taking note of the Opening Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Hirut Zemene Kassa, the Permanent Representative of the  Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia  to the African Union (AU) as PSC Chairperson for the month of April 2026;  the Statement by H.E. Ambassador Alice Nzomukunda, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the Commission for CAR, and also the statements  by the representatives of the Central African Republic, the Economic Community of the Central African States (ECCAS), and by  H.E. Mr. Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, Special Representative  of the United Nations Secretary-General to the AU and Head of the UN Office to the AU (UNOAU); and Acting under Article 7 of its Protocol, the Peace and Security Council: 1. Welcomes the progress made in the country marked by the historic harmonized presidential, legislative, regional and municipal elections organized on 28 December 2025 (the first municipal elections since 1988) which took place in a generally calm and serene atmosphere; and congratulates H.E. Faustin Archange Touadéra on his re-election as President of the Central African Republic; 2. Commends the AU Commission for providing technical support to electoral processes in the CAR and for the deployment of AU Election Observation Missions and requests the Commission to continue providing election-related technical capacity building support to all Member States, particularly those that are currently in political transition; 3. Commends the Government of CAR for the progress made in the implementation of the Disarmament, Demobilization, Reintegration and Repatriation (DDRR) process and for the signing of the N’Djamena Agreements in 2025 between the Government of CAR and three armed groups, namely: UPC, 3R and MPC, under the auspices of the Republic of Chad; and welcomes the participation of youth and women in the process; 4. Expresses deep concern over the financial challenges facing the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), which caused the reduction in the numbers of civilian and military personnel, limited air rotations, deferred maintenance and reduced long-distance patrols, as well as the closure of some military bases; warns that the situation on the ground has the potential of creating  pockets of vulnerability and a real risk of a security vacuum and, in this regard, supports the call for the continued presence of MINUSCA as it continues to play a crucial role and appeals to the UN Security Council (UNSC) to continue to support the presence of the Mission, including through the renewal of its mandate; 5. Directs the AU Commission, to undertake a comprehensive study on the impact of the drawdown and possible withdrawal of MINUSCA and to propose concrete recommendations on the way forward, in order avoid any resumption of hostilities, as well as to develop a strategy on strengthening the role of the Guarantors of the PAPR-CAR, towards an AU-led stabilization support for CAR and to report to the PSC within two months from the date of the adoption of this Communique 6. Reiterates that Article 35 of the PAPR-CAR clearly provides for sanctions against any party or armed group that violates the Agreement, particularly its fundamental principles of respect for human rights and international humanitarian law; and urges all armed groups who are yet to join and sign the Peace Agreement to urgently do so for the stability of the country; 7. Strongly condemns the reported cases of continued recruitment by some armed groups including from some neighbouring countries; also condemns all violations of human rights including gender-based violence against women and girls and warns that the PSC will not hesitate to consider imposing punitive measures in line with Article 35 of the PAPR-CAR, including targeted sanctions against spoilers, in order to ensure peace and stability in the country, as well as to ensure the protection of civilians; 8. Encourages all Member States and partners of the CAR to urgently increase their support towards further enhancing the institutional and operational capacities of the CAR national defence and security forces, the Ministry of Justice, the National Commission on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, as well as the Truth, Justice, Reparations and Reconciliation Commission (CVJRR) and the Special Criminal Court; emphasizing that such support is essential for enabling the CAR authorities to respond more effectively, sustainably and independently to the security challenges and human rights violations in the country; 9. Underscores the importance of the decentralization and implementation of the Truth, Justice, Reparation and Reconciliation Commission (TRRC) as essential factors for the rebuilding of trust and confidence, as well as for promoting national reconciliation; 10. Takes note of the socio-economic challenges facing the CAR and, in this regard, launches an urgent appeal to all AU Member States in a position to do so and the international community to support the Government of the CAR in the implementation of the priority projects outlined in the 2024-2028 National Development Plan with a view to accelerating socio-economic reintegration; 11. Strongly condemns illegal exploitation of natural resources in the CAR, which is hindering socio-economic developments in the country, and encourages the CAR authorities to further strengthen natural resources governance systems with a view to more effectively curbing the scourge; 12. Underscores the importance of quick impact, peace building and peace strengthening projects in consolidating the peace process; conflict de-escalation, building public trust and confidence, sustainably supporting  national reconciliation, and promoting socio-economic development in the CAR, and in this regard, requests the AU post-conflict reconstruction and development (PCRD) Centre to work closely with the CAR authorities in the coordination and implementation of these projects, with a view to preventing any relapse back into conflict; 13. Expresses deep concern over the volatile security situation prevailing in some parts of the country, particularly, in the border regions and, in this respect, emphasizes the need for the CAR authorities to ensure the effective presence of the State in the entire territory of the country, including through  the provision of basic public services, with a view to avoiding the creation of a security vacuum; 14. Commends MINUSCA for its efforts, particularly for the continued commitment to ensure protection of civilians and for creating conducive conditions for the successful organization of the harmonized elections, and also for facilitating other national efforts, aimed at consolidation of peace, security, and stability in the CAR; 15. Also commends the efforts being deployed by the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), in accompanying the CAR towards the successful restoration of durable peace, security and development in the country; 16. Expresses deep concern over the dire humanitarian situation in the CAR resulting from a combination of factors including the current situation of insecurity in parts of the country and the influx of refugees from South Sudan, which has been compounded by financial challenges leading to the closure of some 120 humanitarian offices belonging to 60 humanitarian organizations across the country and reducing lifesaving capacity and, in this context , expresses appreciation to all humanitarian aid agencies operating in the CAR; encourages them to redouble their efforts in providing life support to the population in need and appeals to the international community to scale up capacity support to these agencies, including financially and materially. In the same context, the Council requests the AU Commission Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development Department to provide the necessary humanitarian support to the CAR; 17. Underscores the importance of enhanced coordination and complementarity of efforts among the AU, UN and ECCAS in order to be more impactful on the ground; 18. Congratulates the newly appointed Special Representative of the Chairperson of the AU Commission, H.E. Ambassador Alice Nzomukunda, on her assumption of duty in Bangui; assures her of the support of the Council while wishing  her success in her efforts and reiterates the request to the Chairperson of the Commission to provide the AU Liaison Office (AULO) in Bangui, with all necessary resources to enable the Office to more effectively discharge its mandate; and requests the AULO to provide monthly reports/fact sheets of political, security and economic situation in CAR to the PSC; 19. Requests the AU Commission to formally submit the present communique to the Coordinator of the African Members of the UNSC (A3) to be circulated to the Members of the UN Security Council as part of its working documents; and 20. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter. Posted by Situation Room ICU We use cookies on our website and mobile app to improve content display and overall user experience. The cookies we use do not store personally identifiable information nor can they harm your computer. We intend to provide you with the right knowledge on-demand at the right time and in the appropriate format to ensure that you engage the African Union constructively in your specific role. If you have any questions please contact directly PAPS Digitial Support Officer at abrahamk@africa-union.org COMMENTS PDF Version Related Documents We couldn't find document for this item Twitter Feed Tweets by AUC_PAPS On the same topic Sorry we couldn't find items on the same topic Also happening in this region Sorry we couldn't find items in the same area Subscribe to our Newsletter Subscribe to our mailing list to get PSD updates directly to your inbox. 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