In the Central African Republic, several political reactions after the United Nations Security Council resolution lifting the arms embargo. Imposed at the start of the civil war in 2013, it was then relaxed. Since 2022, the authorities only had to report purchases to the monitoring committee. While President Faustin Archange Touadéra welcomes the end of this embargo, the opposition is more measured.
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” Lifting of arms embargo is a victory for Bangui ” Facing the national press, the President Faustin-Archange Touadéra praised the perseverance of Central African diplomacy on Wednesday, July 31, during a meeting with the national press.
” It has been a long process, a long fight. The embargo in 2013 may have had its reasons, but since the return to constitutional order in Central African Republicthis embargo was no longer justified. It had become unjust for us. And I think that lifting this embargo will help strengthen peace, strengthen democracy. “.
The tone of the bell is different within the opposition
The end of this embargo is also good news for the opponent Martin Ziguélé, president of the Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People. But he now expects more transparency from President Touadéra on his military strategy.
” There must be a military programming law that specifies the resources that will be mobilized, that specifies the objectives and that specifies the timetable. There is no information on this, it is completely unclear. So, the final feeling is that I remain very skeptical about the government’s ability to ensure that this good news actually turns into something concrete in the protection of the Central African people. “.
If the Central African army will once again be able to obtain weapons freely, the member states of the UN Security Council have clearly indicated that they will take measures to prevent weapons from being sold from their territories or by their nationals to armed groups operating in the Central African Republic.
Read alsoCentral African Republic welcomes lifting of arms embargo decreed by the UN in 2013