The United Nations Security Council has extended the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (CAR) for an additional year, in a decision supported by 14 members, with the United States abstaining from the vote.
The resolution stipulates that the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) will continue its operations until November 15, 2026, with the possibility of reducing its troop levels following the elections scheduled for 2025 and 2026. Established in 2014 after a civil war that ousted President François Bozizé, the mission remains a cornerstone of efforts to stabilize the country.
Despite the extension, the Council approved a slight reduction in troop numbers, from 14,400 to 14,046, due to financial pressures resulting from U.S. cuts to peacekeeping contributions. It also affirmed its intent to reassess the mission’s size after the upcoming electoral milestones.
The country is preparing for a quadrennial election—presidential, legislative, regional, and municipal—on December 28, in which approximately 2.3 million voters are eligible to participate. However, opposition forces have announced a boycott, accusing the government of attempting to dominate the electoral process, while President Faustin-Archange Touadéra seeks a third term.
The resolution revealed divisions within the Council. France emphasized that the extension aims to ensure conditions for a lasting return to stability, paving the way for a gradual transfer of security responsibilities to state institutions. The CAR government welcomed the decision, warning that a rapid withdrawal could undermine security gains.
The United States, on the other hand, advocated for a six-month extension or a larger troop reduction, arguing that this would provide the Council with a clearer perspective on the mission’s future post-elections.
The extension comes at a time when the country faces complex security and political challenges, leaving MINUSCA’s future contingent on the electoral outcomes and the government’s ability to consolidate security across the territory.