UNITED NATIONS, April 9 (Xinhua) -- The Security Council on Tuesday adopted a presidential statement to set key benchmarks for the suspension or progressive lifting of an arms embargo on the government of the Central African Republic (CAR).
The benchmarks include disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former members of armed groups, and weapons management abilities of the government.
The Security Council demands progress on the effective implementation of the National Program for Disarmament, Demobilization, Reintegration and Repatriation, and in particular the socio-economic reintegration of former members of armed groups and the integration of vetted former members of armed groups into all uniformed personnel.
It demands the establishment of a planning document detailing the needs of the CAR authorities in terms of weapons and ammunition storage facilities and in terms of training and vetting of defense and security forces for the management of these weapons and ammunition and facilities.
The council wants the finalization of an arms registration and management protocol for CAR defense and security forces, and the establishment of a system of individual receipt of weapons and of a system for applying individual accountability measures in case of loss, theft, or diversion of weapons.
It demands the establishment of a protocol for the collection and destruction or transfer to the CAR Armed Forces and Internal Security Forces of surplus, unregistered or illicitly held weapons and ammunition seized by the CAR authorities.
It demands the operationalization of a national commission against the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.
The Security Council requests the UN secretary-general to conduct an assessment on the progress achieved on the key benchmarks by July 31, 2019, so that the council can review the arms embargo measures on the government of the CAR by Sept. 30, 2019.
The Security Council requests the CAR authorities to report, by June 30, 2019, on the progress achieved in security sector reform, in the disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and repatriation process and the management of weapons and ammunition.
Tuesday's presidential statement was in line with Resolution 2454, adopted on Jan. 31, 2019, which renewed the sanctions for one year, but envisaged the establishment of key benchmarks for review of the arms embargo by April 30, 2019.
The CAR has been in civil war since 2012, which is being fought along religious and ethnic lines.
