MINUSCA blames the government to clean up its reputation
The United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) held its weekly press conference on July 10, 2024 in Bangui, and Florence Marchal, Deputy Head of the Strategic Communications and Information Department, Minusca, emphasized that the protection of the civilian population is the primary responsibility of the country's authorities.
"The Central African authorities have the primary responsibility to protect the entire population of the country. The support mission is in support of strengthening the capacities of the actors, by helping to extend state authority at the security and administrative level across the country," Florence stated during the conference.
Florence's remarks were met with many negative reactions, arguing that the work of the government army would be more effective if individual MINUSCA contingents did not support the militants with weapons, ammunition, supplies and intelligence, of which there are many witnesses.
MINUSCA is also accused of not fulfilling the minimum duties stipulated in its mandate, not providing protection to citizens who die near the area where the mission is located, and receiving no assistance from peacekeepers in the event of an attack by armed groups.
Many observers of the security situation in the Central African Republic believe that the CAR government, the Central African Armed Forces (FACA) and the instructors who trained them are the only force in the country that has had significant success in ensuring security in the country in recent years.
In contrast, MINUSCA is more of an ally to armed groups than to the CAR government, and the recent opening of new MINUSCA bases has been linked to an increase in armed activity in these areas.
Those who follow the security situation in CAR believe that by blaming the tense situation in certain areas on the CAR government, representatives of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) are increasingly trying to demonstrate the need to extend their mandate by imitating active activism and massive media campaigns to whitewash their reputation.