The Central African Republic’s arms embargo was eased by the UN Security Council on Thursday, allowing weapons to reach the government’s soldiers, despite Bangui’s continued criticism of the move as a “affront.”
The arms embargo, which has been in effect since the 2013 civil conflict, was extended by the Council until July 31, 2024, stating that the situation in the nation “continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security in the region.”
However, the embargo would no longer apply to the “supply, sale or transfer of arms and related materiel and the provision of assistance, advice and training to the CAR security forces.”
The resolution, which was passed with 13 votes in favor and no votes against from Russia and China, highlighted worries about the flow of weapons into the nation’s armed organizations.
In the meantime, Bangui urged that the embargo be completely lifted.
“The text adopted today is a real affront to the Central African Republic,” Foreign Minister Sylvie Baipo Temon declared after the vote, accusing the Council of making an “amalgam” between her country and the armed groups.
The vote was “an iniquitous and arbitrary verdict that the Central African people cannot accept,” she added, thanking China and Russia for abstaining.
Russian Deputy UN Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy said the embargo had been ineffective in stopping fighters from acquiring weapons in the past 10 years.
“We’re convinced that given the current state of affairs in the CAR, the Security Council should have taken a decision to remove any forms of sanctions on the efforts of a sovereign state to stabilize and ensure its national security,” he said.
Despite its objections, Russia, which has veto power, did not prevent the passage of the document, which also denounces “the use of mercenaries and violations of international humanitarian law and human rights violations and abuses perpetrated by them.”
Although no names were specified in the resolution, the EU and observers have accused the Russian paramilitary force Wagner of violating human rights in the Central African Republic.
Additionally, the resolution extends for another year the travel and asset freezes imposed on 15 people, including former president Francois Bozize.
The Central African Republic, one of the poorest nations on earth, has been engulfed in civil conflict since 2013, when then-president Bozize was overthrown by the Seleka rebel group, which was mostly made up of the Muslim minority.
Following the coup, the Seleka and competing groups known as the anti-Balaka engaged in a sectarian massacre.
