Warnings of Sudans War Spilling into Central African Republic
Moatinoon - Agencies
The head of UN peacekeeping operations warned on Thursday of the potential for the war in Sudan to spill over and undermine the nascent stability in the Central African Republic, including through paramilitary operations.
Last week, an armed group attacked a patrol of the UN mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), killing a Zambian peacekeeper.
The Central African Republic is among the worlds poorest countries and shares a border with Sudan, which has been embroiled in a devastating conflict between the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since April 2023.
Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, highlighted the armed group that attacked the CAR mission during a Security Council meeting on Thursday. A report from the office of UN Secretary-General António Guterres also noted attacks in the region.
"The security situation in the border areas remains fragile," Lacroix told the Security Council, referring to the Central African Republic.
He added, "In the northeast, on the border with Sudan, instability is characterized by the spillover of the Sudanese conflict, including incursions by armed groups."
The Central African Republic is also facing increasing numbers of Sudanese refugees fleeing the conflict, with a UN report estimating their number at 36,642 as of June 1.
"The Sudanese conflict is a real threat," said the Central African Republics ambassador to the UN, Marios Aristide Hoya Nzisiwe. "Armed groups are crossing our borders, recruiting young people, and threatening our sovereignty."
Lacroix said the Central African Republic is at a "delicate juncture," adding that the international communitys support for progress toward the upcoming elections "remains essential."
Lacroix said, "If these efforts continue... the Central African Republic has the potential to become a true success story—not only for the people of Central Africa, but also for peacekeeping and the Security Council."
According to the African Center for Justice and Peace Studies, reports from the United Nations and the African Defense Forum have confirmed that the conflict in Sudan has actually begun to spread to the border areas with the Central African Republic, through Sudanese airstrikes on Rapid Support Forces positions. The Rapid Support Forces have also recruited fighters from Central African militias, threatening the stability of Bangui.
Statistics indicate that more than 31,000 Sudanese refugees are currently residing in remote areas of southern Central Africa (Vakaga and Haute Kotto). The refugees are suffering from a lack of clean water, medicine, and food, and local leaders have called on the central government in Bangui to intensify efforts to assist them.
