UNSC imposes sanctions on spoilers of transitional political process in Central African

The Security Council imposed an assets freeze and travel ban and renewed the existing arms embargo for one year on entities and individuals who hinder the political process in the Central African Republic (CAR), violate embargos, or violate human rights and international humanitarian law. Acting unanimously Tuesday, the Council also authorized a European Union (EU) intervention force, of about 800 troops, for a period of six months to assist African and French forces on the ground, but mainly to protect the internally displaced persons and guard the airport. It has not been officially announced which European countries would send troops to the CAR and when. The Council also extended the mandate of the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in the Central African Republic (BINUCA) for a year, enhancing its role in assisting the transitional political process, providing humanitarian assistance and protecting human rights. The Councils action was prompted by the "continuing deterioration" of the security situation in the country, characterized by a "total breakdown in law and order, the absence of the rule of law and sectarian violence." It also "threatens stability in the region and beyond." Attacks against civilians since 5 December 2013 triggered widespread violence between Christian and Muslim communities in Bangui, the capital, and across the country, leaving more than 1,000 people dead and hundreds of thousands persons internally displaced. The Council is also contemplating establishing a UN peacekeeping force at a later stage. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is expected to issue his recommendations on this issue next March. Reacting to the vote, Human Rights Watch said in a statement that leaders who commit serious human rights violations are "finally on notice that impunity is over, and that their actions could put them on the UN sanctions list." It added that while this resolution is a good step in the right direction, it falls "far short" of what is "desperately needed to help stop the escalating bloodshed on the ground and the attacks driving tens of thousands of Muslim civilians out of their homes." The Council "should waste no more time" in authorizing a full-fledged UN peacekeeping with the numbers and equipment needed to build upon and reinforce the AU and French effort to protect civilians. French Ambassador Gerard Araud said such a force, though desperately needed, is not possible at this stage because of lack of funding and of troops.