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U.N. Takes Further Steps in Central African Republic U.N. Takes New Steps in Central African Republic
(about 3 hours later)
UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations Security Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to impose a travel ban on and freeze the assets of people suspected of war crimes in Central African Republic, as the European Union prepared to dispatch a battalion to protect civilians from an unrelenting sectarian war there. UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations Security Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to impose a travel ban on and freeze the assets of people suspected of war crimes in Central African Republic, as the European Union prepared to send a battalion to protect civilians from an unrelenting sectarian war there.
The resolution approved by the Security Council did not name perpetrators of violence who are to face sanctions; that will be taken up later. Last week, Secretary of State John Kerry raised the threat of American sanctions as well.The resolution approved by the Security Council did not name perpetrators of violence who are to face sanctions; that will be taken up later. Last week, Secretary of State John Kerry raised the threat of American sanctions as well.
The council’s move came as United Nations officials described a spiraling conflict, with the mostly Muslim Seleka rebels disarmed and rival Christian gunmen going on retaliatory rampages. “Muslim civilians are now extremely vulnerable,” the United Nations high commissioner for human rights, Navi Pillay, warned this week. United Nations officials described a spiraling conflict, with the mostly Muslim Seleka rebels disarmed and rival Christian gunmen going on retaliatory rampages. “Muslim civilians are now extremely vulnerable,” the United Nations high commissioner for human rights, Navi Pillay, warned this week.
Christians and Muslims have lived peaceably in Central African Republic for generations, but political struggles between former President François Bozizé and Michel Djotodia, who ousted Mr. Bozizé last year with the backing of Muslim militias, have engendered sectarian strife. Mr. Djotodia’s departure this month and the installation of an interim president, Catherine Samba-Panza, have not brought relief to civilians.Christians and Muslims have lived peaceably in Central African Republic for generations, but political struggles between former President François Bozizé and Michel Djotodia, who ousted Mr. Bozizé last year with the backing of Muslim militias, have engendered sectarian strife. Mr. Djotodia’s departure this month and the installation of an interim president, Catherine Samba-Panza, have not brought relief to civilians.
United Nations officials continue to warn of the risk of genocide. Children have been recruited to fight. Roughly one in five people have fled their homes, and the World Food Program estimates that a majority of the country’s 4.6 million people are eating one meal a day.United Nations officials continue to warn of the risk of genocide. Children have been recruited to fight. Roughly one in five people have fled their homes, and the World Food Program estimates that a majority of the country’s 4.6 million people are eating one meal a day.
Troops from the African Union have tried to stop the violence, but with minimal effect. Just under 5,500 troops have arrived, shy of the 6,000 the union has pledged. France has dispatched 1,600 of its own soldiers to help but has insisted for months that a United Nations peacekeeping force is needed. The subject is expected to be discussed at an African Union summit that starts this week in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Troops from the African Union have tried to stop the violence, but with minimal effect. Just under 5,500 troops have arrived, shy of the 6,000 the union has pledged. France has sent 1,600 of its own soldiers to help but has insisted for months that a United Nations peacekeeping force is needed. The subject is expected to be discussed at an African Union summit meeting that starts this week in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
On Tuesday, the French ambassador, Gérard Araud, said that at least 10,000 peacekeepers would be required to restore order in the country, along with assistance from the United Nations to rebuild state institutions.On Tuesday, the French ambassador, Gérard Araud, said that at least 10,000 peacekeepers would be required to restore order in the country, along with assistance from the United Nations to rebuild state institutions.
Mr. Araud sought to emphasize that the United Nations would not supplant the African Union force. “It’s obviously an African endeavor,” he told reporters, careful not to invite a dispute with African Union member countries, whose troops the United Nations would need for any mission in Central African Republic. “It’s obviously an endeavor where Africans have taken the burden.”Mr. Araud sought to emphasize that the United Nations would not supplant the African Union force. “It’s obviously an African endeavor,” he told reporters, careful not to invite a dispute with African Union member countries, whose troops the United Nations would need for any mission in Central African Republic. “It’s obviously an endeavor where Africans have taken the burden.”
“We want to tell the Africans, ‘It’s very difficult, it’s more difficult than we were anticipating, and the U.N. can help you,’ ” he said. “We want to tell the Africans, ‘It’s very difficult, it’s more difficult than we were anticipating, and the U.N. can help you,’ ” he said.
Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations secretary general, will present recommendations at the end of February as to whether a peacekeeping force should be deployed.Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations secretary general, will present recommendations at the end of February as to whether a peacekeeping force should be deployed.
French soldiers have been guarding the airport in the capital, Bangui, where tens of thousands of displaced people have erected a makeshift camp. The European Union has authorized the deployment of a battalion of European troops — roughly 500 to 600 soldiers — to relieve the French. They will arrive within weeks, the European Union envoy to the United Nations, Thomas Mayr-Harting, told reporters on Tuesday.French soldiers have been guarding the airport in the capital, Bangui, where tens of thousands of displaced people have erected a makeshift camp. The European Union has authorized the deployment of a battalion of European troops — roughly 500 to 600 soldiers — to relieve the French. They will arrive within weeks, the European Union envoy to the United Nations, Thomas Mayr-Harting, told reporters on Tuesday.
The Security Council measure authorizes those troops to use “all necessary measures” to help African Union forces. They will be there for up to six months, Mr. Mayr-Harting said.The Security Council measure authorizes those troops to use “all necessary measures” to help African Union forces. They will be there for up to six months, Mr. Mayr-Harting said.