New York -
The Central African Republic is entering a “critical phase” of its political transition when issues at the core of the conflict need to be addressed within a tight deadline, the UN's peacekeeping operations chief told the Security Council on Tuesday.
Herve Ladsous said that issues such as disarmament, reintegration of armed groups, security sector reform and the status of refugees and internally displaced people need to be addressed during the transitional period, which ends in August next year.
“Risks remain high that additional disruptions to the political process and to the security situation could put the transitional process in jeopardy,” Ladsous said.
“Any further delays beyond August 2015 could undermine the transition itself.”
The country has suffered sectarian violence since Muslim Seleka rebels overthrew President Francois Bozize, a Christian, in March 2013.
Thousands of people have been killed and about a million displaced in the ethno-religious conflict.
Sapa-dpa