UNITED NATIONS, September 16 (RIA Novosti) - As the United Nations took over peacekeeping in the Central African Republic Monday, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a Press Statement expressing the members' concern over human rights violations and abuses in the Central African Republic and called for.
"[The UN Security Council members] remain seriously concerned by the continued violations of international humanitarian law and the widespread human rights violations and abuses in the Central African Republic," said in the statement.
The Council statement marked the "transition of authority from the African-led International Support Mission in the Central African Republic (MISCA) to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) on the 15th of September, which took place in accordance with Resolution 2149" of the Security Council.
The statement "stressed the importance for MINUSCA to accelerate the deployments of its civilian, police, and military capabilities in the Central African Republic, including the necessary logistical support and Command and Control structure, in order to reach its full operational capacity as soon as possible."
Peacekeeping in the Central African Republic has proved dangerous. On August 19, UN envoy Babacar Gaye told the Security Council that “sectarian violence and the cycle of violent attacks and reprisals continue in many places in the country.”
Gaye gave the Council an example of an incident that left 26 killed, including two African Union peacekeepers, in Batangafo on July 31 and subsequent reprisal attacks. In Mbres, 38 people were killed "due to sectarian violence."
The Council also "reiterated their call to the Transitional Authorities to accelerate preparations in order to hold free, fair, transparent and inclusive presidential and legislative elections scheduled for February 2015, and to swiftly implement concrete measures necessary to achieve this objective, with the support of the United Nations and other partners."
"The continued role of the region, including the Chair of ECCAS and its mediator, as well as the African Union, together with the United Nations, will be critical for the promotion of lasting peace and stability in the Central African Republic," said in the statement, which also called upon "the international community to continue to support the people and Transitional Authorities of the Central African Republic."
