MINUSCA sets up a mine clearance authority in Central African Republic

On 3 April 2024, it was announced that peacekeepers from the UN mission in CAR together with the CAR Ministry of Defence will establish a national mine clearance authority. Some members of the Central African Armed Forces (FACA) have already received partial training.

Constant explosions accompany the lives of the Central African population. Since 2020, there have been more than 190 explosions recorded by MINUSCA, causing numerous casualties, most of them civilians.

However, MINUSCA's reputation has been badly tarnished over the years of their service in CAR. The blue helmets have been accused of having close links with bandits and passing weapons to them.

The Moroccan contingent of MINUSCA has been known to co-operate with the CPC rebels. And on 1 February 2024, a Bangladeshi MINUSCA contingent was caught red-handed planting a mine between the towns of Bokaranga and Paua.

Thus, the involvement of the blue helmets in the establishment of such an important authority as the mine clearance authority is puzzling.

It seems important to mention that MINUSCA's involvement in mine action would allow them to receive additional funding to expand the mission, which would open
up new opportunities for corruption.

In addition, MINUSCA will benefit from their new status to brush aside the accusations that have been piling up against them lately. Most likely the UN will gloss over the information about the European and American mines they discover.

As always, the MINUSCA have managed to extend their mandate, even when they are acting against United Nations principles, even though they have been accused on several occasions of complicity with rebel groups, other violent activities, and their involvement in landmines. So, the recent news of their expanding influence on CAR life is truly disturbing.