United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad
Encyclopedia
The United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) was a United Nations
peacekeeping
mission established by the United Nations Security Council
on September 25, 2007 to provide a multidimensional presence of up to 350 police and military personnel to eastern Chad
and north-eastern Central African Republic
The mission comes as a response to the dire situation of an estimated 230,000 refugees from Darfur
who continue to flee into bordering eastern Chad
and north-eastern Central African Republic
(CAR). Armed Sudan
ese rebel groups have continuously carried out attacks across the Sudanese border, endangering local residents and Darfurian refugees alike.
This followed on from a resolution in July 2007 sending UNAMID into the region and a resolution in August 2006 sending UNMIS there, the Secretary-General drafted a report outlining the shape of the mission he thought should be sent there, as well as received assurance from the European Union
of its contribution of troops.
Although the EUFOR Tchad/RCA
was originally scheduled to deploy in November 2007, it was delayed until February by a lack of equipment. It reached its Initial Operational Capability on 15 March 2008 and was replaced by UN forces under the same MINURCAT mandate on 15 March 2009. The latest resolution to concern the MINURCAT mandate, Security Council Resolution 1913
, extended the stationing of the mission until 15 May 2010 allowing further discussions with the Chadian government which asked for the mandate not be renewed. A further extension was done until the end of 2010.
operated under the auspices and in the framework of MINURCAT in Chad
and the Central African Republic
as authorized in late 2007. The deployment of up to 3,700 troops began in February 2008. Contributors included (with number of troops committed): Albania - 63 troops from Commando Regiment France – half of the full contingent Ireland – 411 troops Poland – 350 troops Sweden – 200 troops Austria – 160 troops Romania – 120 troops Belgium – 100 troops Spain – 80 troops Finland – 40 troops Netherlands - 60 Marines
According to the Brussels-based news agency “Panapress”, a number of non-EU countries also expressed interest in providing logistic or personnel support to the EUFOR mission.
Their mandate included “to take all necessary measures, within its capabilities and its area of operation in eastern Chad and the north-eastern Central African Republic” to protect civilians, facilitate delivery of humanitarian aid, and ensure the safety of UN personnel. The EU operation commander, General Patrick Nash, announced on 5 November that this force will be 3,700 troops strong. The military operation was approved by the Council of the European Union on 15 October.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
peacekeeping
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
mission established by the United Nations Security Council
United Nations Security Council
The United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...
on September 25, 2007 to provide a multidimensional presence of up to 350 police and military personnel to eastern Chad
Chad
Chad , officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west...
and north-eastern Central African Republic
Central African Republic
The Central African Republic , is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It borders Chad in the north, Sudan in the north east, South Sudan in the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo in the south, and Cameroon in the west. The CAR covers a land area of about ,...
The mission comes as a response to the dire situation of an estimated 230,000 refugees from Darfur
Darfur
Darfur is a region in western Sudan. An independent sultanate for several hundred years, it was incorporated into Sudan by Anglo-Egyptian forces in 1916. The region is divided into three federal states: West Darfur, South Darfur, and North Darfur...
who continue to flee into bordering eastern Chad
Chad
Chad , officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west...
and north-eastern Central African Republic
Central African Republic
The Central African Republic , is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It borders Chad in the north, Sudan in the north east, South Sudan in the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo in the south, and Cameroon in the west. The CAR covers a land area of about ,...
(CAR). Armed Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
ese rebel groups have continuously carried out attacks across the Sudanese border, endangering local residents and Darfurian refugees alike.
This followed on from a resolution in July 2007 sending UNAMID into the region and a resolution in August 2006 sending UNMIS there, the Secretary-General drafted a report outlining the shape of the mission he thought should be sent there, as well as received assurance from the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
of its contribution of troops.
Although the EUFOR Tchad/RCA
EUFOR Tchad/RCA
European Union Force Chad/CAR, also EUFOR Tchad/RCA after the French, was the European Union mission in Chad and the Central African Republic , authorized in late 2007. EUFOR Chad/CAR was authorized under the same United Nations Security Council resolution that mandated MINURCAT, a UN force tasked...
was originally scheduled to deploy in November 2007, it was delayed until February by a lack of equipment. It reached its Initial Operational Capability on 15 March 2008 and was replaced by UN forces under the same MINURCAT mandate on 15 March 2009. The latest resolution to concern the MINURCAT mandate, Security Council Resolution 1913
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1913
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1913, adopted unanimously on March 12, 2010, after recalling resolutions 1769 , 1778 , 1834 and 1861 , the Council noted that the situation in the region of Darfur, Sudan and Chad and the Central African Republic constituted a threat to international...
, extended the stationing of the mission until 15 May 2010 allowing further discussions with the Chadian government which asked for the mandate not be renewed. A further extension was done until the end of 2010.
Military personnel
As of 2010, there were 5,200 military personnel and 25 military liaison officers from Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ireland, Kenya, Mali, Mongolia, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Russia, Rwanda, Senegal, Serbia, Sri Lanka, Togo, Tunisia and United States.Police personnel
As of 2010, there were 300 police officers from Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Finland, France, Guinea, Jordan, Madagascar, Mali, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Turkey and Yemen.European Union mission
The EU forces mission EUFOR Tchad/RCAEUFOR Tchad/RCA
European Union Force Chad/CAR, also EUFOR Tchad/RCA after the French, was the European Union mission in Chad and the Central African Republic , authorized in late 2007. EUFOR Chad/CAR was authorized under the same United Nations Security Council resolution that mandated MINURCAT, a UN force tasked...
operated under the auspices and in the framework of MINURCAT in Chad
Chad
Chad , officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west...
and the Central African Republic
Central African Republic
The Central African Republic , is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It borders Chad in the north, Sudan in the north east, South Sudan in the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo in the south, and Cameroon in the west. The CAR covers a land area of about ,...
as authorized in late 2007. The deployment of up to 3,700 troops began in February 2008. Contributors included (with number of troops committed): Albania - 63 troops from Commando Regiment France – half of the full contingent Ireland – 411 troops Poland – 350 troops Sweden – 200 troops Austria – 160 troops Romania – 120 troops Belgium – 100 troops Spain – 80 troops Finland – 40 troops Netherlands - 60 Marines
According to the Brussels-based news agency “Panapress”, a number of non-EU countries also expressed interest in providing logistic or personnel support to the EUFOR mission.
Their mandate included “to take all necessary measures, within its capabilities and its area of operation in eastern Chad and the north-eastern Central African Republic” to protect civilians, facilitate delivery of humanitarian aid, and ensure the safety of UN personnel. The EU operation commander, General Patrick Nash, announced on 5 November that this force will be 3,700 troops strong. The military operation was approved by the Council of the European Union on 15 October.
External links
- HDPT - United Nations website monitoring detailed progress of EUFOR TCHAD/RCA and MINURCAT
- MINURCAT website
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Study on MINURCAT and EUFOR TCHAD/RCA
- EUFOR TCHAD/RCA website
- Security Council authorizes establishment of ‘Multidimensional Presence’ in Chad, Central African Republic, unanimously adopting Resolution 1778 (2007) UN News Centre