Situation in Central Africa

Released by the U.S. Mission to the United Nations

One of our aims here today is to strengthen cooperation between regional organizations, the international community, and the UN system.  But we must be up-front: regional cooperation can only be built on the solid foundation of healthy and wholly functioning states.  These are nation states with cohesive and transparent forms of government based on the rule of law, an active independent judiciary, and a professional military distinct from civilian life.  Robust regional cooperation among the Central African states can only truly come about when all nations within the region reach this threshold of domestic stability and integrity and when each nation provides security for its entire citizenry.  Ultimately, we cannot provide effective bilateral assistance or assistance multilaterally, unless and until each nation functions and thrives.

The Central African region is now faced with the complex and essential challenge of making way for peace. In the D.R.C. the recent peace accords have made specific and detailed provisions for the return of foreign troops to their homelands and for former combatants to return to their home regions.  The success of these plans means more than the separation of forces; the individuals returning after many months or many years must be made welcome if their reintegration is to be permanent.  The last thing that the region needs is thousands upon thousands of the permanently displaced.

Mr. President, we are all acutely aware of the staggering cost of warfare and conflict in the Central African region, both in terms of human suffering and monetary value.  Last year, the UN spent $296.5 million on its peacekeeping operation in the D.R.C. alone, of which the Government of the United States of America contributed $83.4 million.  In addition, the Government of the United States spent some 34 million U.S. dollars last year on assistance to displaced persons in the Central African region (not including assistance to Angola).  These are large sums and I cite them because they are indicative of dimensions of the problems facing the region as a result of conflicts.  The United States takes this occasion to encourage those countries faced with the reintegration of former combatants to work with UNHCR and other relevant agencies to monitor the security and safety of returning combatants.  There will need to be impartial third-party verification of the safety of former combatants in order for there to be full reintegration.  

At the same time, we cannot be complacent and take recent progress for granted.  We need only look to the recent violence and fighting in Uvira, D.R.C. between the Mai Mai, the RCD/Goma, and other armed groups, which has increased instability and tension as well as the risk of spillover violence in both Burundi and Rwanda.  This is why it is imperative that the parties cease hostilities immediately and without preconditions.  The U.S. Government calls on the Government of the D.R.C. and the Government of Rwanda to exert their influence on all the parties to refrain from any action that would further inflame the situation.  

Finally, I note that there are six separate SRSG’s or envoys of the Secretary-General in the Central African region.  I ask that we use this discussion to step back and look at the mandates of those offices to ensure that UN activities in the region are coherent and effective.  I would ask the Secretary-General to brief the Security Council on the goals of those offices, and on the benchmarks he would look to in fulfilling those aims.  I also would ask for specific benchmark regarding the recent call by the Security Council urging the use of an SRSG’s good offices to serve as a mediating influence in Uvira, D.R.C.