The United Nations’ peacekeeping chief warned Thursday that ongoing conflict in Sudan could threaten the fragile stability of the Central African Republic, including the threat of paramilitary operations spilling over its borders.
Last week, an armed group attacked a UN patrol in the Central African Republic, resulting in the death of a Zambian peacekeeper. The Central African Republic, one of the world’s poorest nations, shares a border with Sudan, where fighting has raged since April 2023 between the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
During a Security Council meeting, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix highlighted the attack on the UN mission. A recent report from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s office also detailed regional security concerns, including attacks and incursions in border areas.
“The security situation remains fragile in border regions,” Lacroix said, referencing the northeastern border with Sudan. “Instability is fueled by the overflow of Sudanese conflict, including incursions by armed groups.”
The conflict has also resulted in a surge of Sudanese refugees seeking safety in the Central African Republic. The UN estimates that as of June 1, approximately 36,642 Sudanese refugees reside in the country.
“The Sudanese conflict poses a real threat,” said CAR UN ambassador Marius Aristide Hoja Nzessioue. “Armed groups are crossing our borders, recruiting young people, and undermining our sovereignty.”
Lacroix emphasized that the Central African Republic is at a “delicate juncture” and called for continued international support to sustain progress toward upcoming elections, underscoring the importance of stability in the region.
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