UN Security Council renews peacekeeping mission's mandate in Central African Republic for another year

By Merve Aydogan

HAMILTON, Canada (AA) - The UN Security Council on Thursday renewed the mandate of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) for another year.

The resolution, penned by France, extends MINUSCA's mandate until Nov. 15, 2026.

It garnered overwhelming support in the Council, with 14 member states voting in favor and only the US abstaining.

Speaking after the vote, the US envoy to the UN, Mike Waltz, said: "Unfortunately, we do not believe that a one-year extension of the mandate or the reduction in the troop ceiling accurately reflects a number of priorities of this Council and the situation on the ground."

"The Central African Republic, we agree, is at a pivotal time with upcoming elections. The country stands at an important milestone on the path to peace, stability and prosperity. Given this, the United States proposed extending MINUSCA's current mandate for six months," he said, arguing that UN peacekeeping missions must be considered as “temporary."

"These missions must work themselves out of a job," he added.

Established in 2014, MINUSCA is mandated with "the security, humanitarian, human rights and political crisis in the Central African Republic (CAR) and its regional implications," according to its website.