Topic: 2026 – Situation in the Central African Republic
Country: Russian Federation
Delegate Name: Supratik Biswas
The Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, recognizes the gravity of the humanitarian crisis and period of political instability facing the Central African Republic. Consistently on the international stage, the Russian Federation prioritizes the principles of respect for individual state sovereignty and avoidance of interference in internal domestic affairs. Russia maintains that long-term and sustainable peace in the Central African Republic will only be the result of the strengthening of state institutions and through international cooperation with the consent of the host state, rather than externally imposed political or governance solutions.
To provide context of the ongoing situation in the Central African Republic, the current crisis stemmed from the overthrow of acting President François Bozizé in 2013 by the Séléka rebel coalition. This collapse of central governance led to the rapid increase of auxiliary, non-state affiliated armed groups across the country, resulting in massive amounts of humanitarian crises and general instability in the region. Today, insecurities in basic human necessities are still very common, the government’s ability to govern is limited beyond the capital of Bangui, and much of the population is in need of humanitarian assistance. General regional instability, particularly the border conflicts with Sudan and Chad have contributed to the increased ability to move armed groups and illicit weapons, while at the same time, the presence of foreign powers have caused concerns about national sovereignty. The Russian stance emphasizes that any external involvement must be at the explicit agreement and direction of the Central African Republic’s government, such to support rather than undermine national authority. Any foreign actions beyond these boundaries only risk further destabilizing the situation.
Numerous non-state armed groups are active throughout the area, occupying significant territory and obstructing the ability of humanitarian aid to reach people in need. Their continued operation undermines the ability of the state to govern, threaten civilian populations, and block attempts to provide aid. The Russian Federation’s stance is that it is absolutely necessary to restore the state’s ability to suppress the use of physical force by non-governmental entities in order to build sustainable stability. To build this capability, security sector reforms and coordinated counterterrorism against armed groups will be of highest priority.
To address the situation in the Central African Republic, the United Nations has played a major role, particularly through the establishment of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) in 2014. While the Russian Federation acknowledges that MINUSCA has contributed to the protection of civilians and some stabilization in key areas, its mandate extensions, including Security Council Resolution 2759, demonstrate the ongoing necessity of its presence under current conditions. However, Russia emphasizes the necessity for peacekeeping missions to adapt to realities on the ground, improve coordination with host state authorities, and avoid fostering long-term dependency on foreign security assistance, which could undermine national sovereignty and institutional development.
The Russian Federation supports the establishment of a balanced approach that prioritizes cooperation between MINUSCA and the government of the Central African Republic, where responsibilities of government operations are gradually shifted back to national institutions, such that the sovereignty of the nation may be supported. Supplementary to this, efforts to strengthen governance, re-establish basic services, and efforts to support economic recovery are essential to the re-establishment of a properly functioning state. Humanitarian assistance should be delivered by impartial UN agencies that have the ability to reach civilians in need of assistance without political conditionality. Lasting peace in the Central African Republic demands national ownership in stabilization efforts, strengthened state institutions, and international assistance conducted restricted to be merely a supporting force with the consent of the host state. The UNSC itself must balance immediate security concerns with long-term institution building to ensure stability, protect civilians, and foster a sustainable path towards peace.
