UN Security Council Resolution 1834

UN Security Council Resolution 1834 was adopted unanimously by the 15 member states of the United Nations Security Council, extending the United Nations mission in Chad and the Central African Republic (MINURCAT) until March 15, 2009, which was due to expire on September 25th, 2008. [http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/sc9454.doc.htm]

Background

The United Nations mission in Chad and the Central African Republic, MINURCAT(United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad ), was established in the UN Security Council Resolution 1778 in September 25th, 2007, which would leave a multidimensional force in Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR) to help create security conductive to a voluntary and sustainable return of Refugees. The mission was created due to an estimated 230,000 refugees fleeing Darfur into eastern Chard and north-eastern CAR. Continued cross border assaults from Sudanese rebels have endangered refugees and local residents alike. The same resolution also authorized a European Union military deployment to support MINURCAT’s activities for one year, acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.

Before the vote, the Security Council held several meetings to discuss the resolution that would extend the United Nations mission in the region and have the United Nations take over theEuropean Union led military force (EUFOR).

5981st Security Council meeting

The 15 members of the United Nations Security Council convened at the United Nations headquarters in New York on September 24th, 2008 to discuss extending the mandate on the mission to Chad and the Central African Republic, which was due to expire the next day. The meeting was called to order at 3:15 PM, with the President of the Security Council, Michel Kafando of Burkina Faso, introducing Ahmad Allam-Mi the representative of Chad who had been invited to sit in on the meeting. Members were given document S/2008/616 [http://www.undemocracy.com/S-2008-616] , which contained the text of a draft resolution submitted by Belgium, Costa Rica, Croatia, France, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya and the United States of America. Members of the Council also were given document S/2008/601 [http://www.undemocracy.com/S-2008-601] and Addendum 1, which contained the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Mission on the Central African Republic and Chad.

The United Kingdom representative Sir John Sawers expressed their support for the resolution, though listed a few concerns. "But there is much work to be done before theCouncil can take a firm decision on a new peacekeeping mission," he said. "An expanded United Nations mission in Chad needs clear objectives, an achievable mandate, a sensible time frame for deployment, measurable benchmarks and a realistic end state that, once achieved, will enable the force to withdraw. We also question whether a force twice the size of EUFOR is needed." He also expressed reservation over a military presence in the Central African Republic, seeing no value to it, as well as calling for a 'disciplined and strategic approach to the management of scarce peacekeeping resources.'

The proceeding vote on the draft for the Resolution found all 15 members in favor, leading to the adoption of the draft resolution as Resolution 1834.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left"
- ! -! Country ! Vote! Representative
-
|| People's Republic of China || Yes || Wang Guangya
-
|| France || Yes || Jean-Maurice Ripert
-
|| Libya || Yes || Jadallah Azzuz at-Talhi
-
|| South Africa || Yes || Dumisani Kumalo
-
|| Vietnam || Yes || Lê Lương Minh
-

Text of Resolution

*"Recalling" its resolutions and the statements of its President concerning Chad, the Central African Republic and the subregion, including resolution 1778 (2007) and its resolutions 1769 (2007) and 1828 (2008)
*"Reaffirming" its commitment to the sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity and political independence of Chad and the Central African Republic, and to the cause of peace in the region
*"Reiterating" its concern at the humanitarian and security repercussions in eastern Chad and the north-eastern Central African Republic of the ongoing violence in Darfur
*"Deeply concerned" at the activities of armed groups and other attacks in eastern Chad, the north-eastern Central African Republic and western Sudan which threaten the security of the civilian population, the conduct of humanitarian operations in those areas and the stability of those countries, and which result in serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law
*"Stressing" that a proper settlement of the Darfur issue and an improvement of relations between the Sudan, Chad and the Central African Republic will contribute to long-term peace and stability in the region
*"Reiterating" its full support for the efforts of the Secretary-General and of the African Union, through their joint Chief Mediator Djibril Yipéné Bassolé, to revive the peace process begun by the Darfur Peace Agreement, consolidate the ceasefire and reinforce the peacekeeping presence in Darfur
*"Reaffirming" that any attempt at destabilization through violent means or seizing power by force is unacceptable
*"Reaffirming" its resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008) on women, peace and security, 1502 (2003) on the protection of humanitarian and United Nations personnel, and 1674 (2006) on the protection of civilians in armed conflict
*"Reaffirming" its resolution 1612 (2005) on children in armed conflict, taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict in Chad and the recommendations therein, and recalling the conclusions regarding Chad adopted by its Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict
*"Recognizing" that the Governments of Chad and the Central African Republic bear primary responsibility for ensuring the security of civilians in their territories
*"Bearing in mind" the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees of 28 July 1951 and its additional protocol of 16 December 1966,along with the 1969 Convention of the Organization of African Unity governing the specific aspects of refugee problems in Africa
*"Emphasizing" the need to respect international refugee law, preserve the civilian and humanitarian nature of the refugee camps and internally displaced persons sites and prevent any recruitment of individuals, including children, which might be carried out in or around the camps by armed groups
*"Welcoming" the deployment by the European Union of its operation in eastern Chad and Central African Republic (EUFOR Chad/CAR), noting that the European Union declared the initial operational capacity of the operation on 15 March 2008, and recalling that, according to resolution 1778, the mandate of EUFOR Chad/CAR therefore runs until 15 March 2009
*"Welcoming" the selection and training by MINURCAT of the first group of police and gendarmerie officers of the Détachement Intégré de Sécurité (DIS, previously referred to as Police Tchadienne pour la Protection Humanitaire), and stressing the need to expedite the deployment of DIS

ummary

* Extends the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) to March 15th, 2009.
* Asks the Secretary-General to complete MINRUCAT's deployment as soon as possible, and asks the government of Chad to carry out the full deployment of Détachement Intégré de Sécurité expeditiously.
*

References