UN chief pays tribute to courage, resilience of people of Central African Republic | WPN World People News

Addressing lawmakers in the Central African Republic, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday stressed the international community's commitment to helping tackle the myriad challenges plaguing the conflict-torn country, and strongly defended the role of the UN peacekeeping force there.

Secretary General António Guterres address to the National Assembly in Central African Republic.

“I wish to pay tribute to the people's courage, resilience and determination to overcome great adversity,” Mr. Guterres told the National Assembly in the capital, Bangui, on the final day of his visit to the country.

“The task of solving this crisis lies first and foremost in the hands of the people of the Central African Republic. Nobody is in a better position to help the country than its own citizens,” he added.

The UN chief noted that the country's enormous difficulties include insecurity, a humanitarian crisis and slow progress towards development.

Armed groups are fragmenting and multiplying. One in four Central Africans is displaced. Development programmes are needed for neglected rural areas. Religion and ethnic origin have been manipulated to create division among communities, severely polarizing a fragile country.

“The Central African Republic is at risk of sliding back into open inter-communal violence,” Mr. Guterres said.

The UN integrated peacekeeping mission there, known by its French acronym, MINUSCA, will use force when the State's stability is threatened, and each time civilians need protection, but does not favour any religious or ethnic group, he said, adding that their actions can assist in creating a space to build peace through dialogue.

However, he said: “Nowhere in the world has the use of force alone resolved a conflict. We therefore need not only more peacekeepers, but more political initiatives for peace.”

Source:United Nations