Humanitarian aid
UN cautions against early MINUSCA pullout as Sudan conflict fuels violence in CAR
A June attack on Am‑Dafock displaced 17,000 people and injured UN peacekeepers, while a surge of armed incidents in eastern CAR and rising food insecurity have prompted the UN Security Council to reconsider a rapid drawdown of the MINUSCA mission.
Border attack underscores need for rapid peacekeeping response
The June 30 assault on the border town of Am‑Dafock, carried out by several armed groups, killed civilians and members of the national security forces, wounded six UN peacekeepers and forced roughly 17,000 residents to flee. MINUSCA’s rapid deployment halted the attackers, who retreated into Sudan after five days of control, preventing a larger loss of life and a deeper erosion of state authority. UN officials argue that without such a rapid‑response capability, violence could quickly spread to adjacent border zones with Chad and Sudan, underscoring the mission’s role in containing spill‑over from the Sudan war.
Escalating insecurity in the southeast and hostages released
In the southeast, authorities recorded 26 serious incidents between June and September, many attributed to suspected members of the Lord’s Resistance Army. These attacks involved rapes, sexual slavery and the abduction of 68 civilians, including about 40 children. The Azandé Ani Kpi Gbé militia also continues to threaten local populations. After months of mediation, the UN announced the release of three hostages held since December 2025, among them the sub‑prefect of Bambouti. The persistence of such violence, especially around mining sites and pastoral corridors, highlights the fragile security environment that remains vulnerable to cross‑border dynamics.
Humanitarian needs and the debate over MINUSCA’s future
Since July 2025, the UN reports that 1,907 fighters have been disarmed and demobilised, part of a broader effort that has seen nearly 2,000 combatants laid down arms. Politically, 127 of the 177 municipalities have installed their councils, while the remaining elections are slated for 25 October. Yet humanitarian needs remain acute: about two million Central Africans—roughly 31 percent of the population—face acute food insecurity, and the UN humanitarian plan is funded at only 46.6 percent. With more than 12,000 peacekeepers still deployed, the Security Council faces a split decision on whether to maintain MINUSCA’s force levels as it prepares to renew the mandate before mid‑November.