The conflict in Sudan is beginning to impact neighboring Central African Republic (CAR), according to the United Nations’ peacekeeping head. This development is particularly worrisome as CAR is already grappling with its own internal conflict involving rebel forces. This unsettling news was shared with the UN Security Council on Thursday.
In his address to the council, Undersecretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix confirmed that a recent deadly attack on a UN peacekeeper near the border with Sudan involved “armed Sudanese elements.” Lacroix’s statement was the first to explicitly link the assault to Sudanese fighters.
Coinciding with Lacroix’s remarks, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in a report to the Security Council, highlighted that vehicles presumed to be associated with Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces had been seen in several locations in CAR, including Am Dafok and Aouk (Vakaga Prefecture). This region is under the surveillance of UN peacekeepers. The report, which spanned observations from mid-February to mid-June, noted that armed movements associated with Sudan’s internal conflict persisted in northeastern Central African Republic.
Since mid-April 2023, Sudan has descended into a turbulent civil war triggered by clashes between two rival generals: one overseeing the nation’s military and the other commanding the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. This violent struggle has resulted in over 24,000 deaths and displaced around 13 million people, all while basic resources like food become scarce and diseases like cholera spread. Both parties involved in the conflict face accusations of committing war crimes.
Meanwhile, the Central African Republic has been embroiled in conflict since 2013 after predominantly Muslim rebel groups toppled former President François Bozizé. The country was among the earliest in Africa to engage Russian-supported forces in an effort to strengthen government authority and combat armed militants.
Lacroix emphasized that while there has been progress with certain factions reintegrating into CAR’s peace framework, violence by other armed groups and militias endures, undermining the nation’s stability and posing threats to civilians. He noted ongoing cooperation between the CAR government and MINUSCA (the UN’s peacekeeping mission in the country) aimed at bolstering security across the country, particularly in border areas.
Despite these efforts, Lacroix acknowledged that the security climate in northeastern border regions remains precarious due to the spillover from neighboring Sudan’s unrest. Looking ahead, with general elections scheduled for December, CAR’s political atmosphere remains fraught with distrust and tension between the ruling party and opposition. Lacroix views the upcoming elections as a “crucial opportunity” to enhance democratic governance, encourage reconciliation, and reinforce stability within the country.