During the interview, she reflected on the reactions of members of the United Nations Security Council to the progress achieved by the Central African Republic in the areas of peace, security, the extension of State authority, and the political process. She also discussed the implications of the reconfiguration of MINUSCA, the persistent security challenges, particularly in border areas, as well as the progress made in promoting women’s participation and advancing peacebuilding efforts.
Radio Guira: The members of the Security Council unanimously noted the progress made on the path to peace. Can we say that this is a recognition of the joint efforts of the Central African Government, MINUSCA, and the United Nations Country Team?
Valentine Rugwabiza: Indeed, there was a strong and very clear consensus expressed by all 15 members of the Security Council. And the consensus was very clear regarding the results achieved in implementing MINUSCA’s mandate, which are, in fact, the results in terms of supporting that stability mandate and supporting the Central African authorities.
There was also a very clear consensus among Security Council members on the need to consolidate these results. So, they acknowledge indeed that the results are tangible and significant, and that progress is visible, but that they need to be consolidated.
Upon your return to the Central African Republic, you shared with Prime Minister Félix Moloua, and other government ministers the conclusions of your discussions with the United Nations Security Council. How did they react to this report? What are their views on the efforts needed to consolidate these achievements?
VR: Upon my return, I indeed had the pleasure of meeting, during the past week, with the Prime Minister and Head of Government, and I also held discussions with the Minister of the Interior. As you know, Disarmament, Demobilization, Reintegration and Repatriation remain a very important priority of the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic.
I also had the opportunity to meet with the Minister of Territorial Administration. Now that we have reached this very important milestone with the elections in December 2025 and April 2026, it is important to complete the remaining elections. The members of the Security Council have conveyed the importance they attach to the complete conclusion of this electoral cycle. So, I also wanted to convey that to them.
And so, there is genuine convergence. The progress achieved in disarmament and demobilization no longer requires further proof. Since July 2025, more than 1,900 combatants have been disarmed.
However, it has now become increasingly important to step up and accelerate efforts to reintegrate these former combatants, ensuring that they do not once again become a source of concern for the security of the population, but rather active contributors to the development of their communities. We had the opportunity to discuss this with the Minister in charge of DDRR, who is currently mobilizing the various partners involved in socio-economic reintegration.
The reconfiguration of MINUSCA was on the agenda (of the Security Council meeting), as was the transfer of certain priority tasks to national authorities. Would you like to explain today to the Central Africans listening to us why this reconfiguration process was necessary for the Mission?
VR: In terms of developments, it is important to remember that MINUSCA’s mandate was established by the United Nations Security Council in 2014.
MINUSCA was established in 2014 by the United Nations Security Council, which entrusted it with a mandate to protect civilians, support the political process, and contribute to the stabilization of the Central African Republic. We are now in 2026; the security situation that prevailed in 2014, when this mandate was established, is very different from the one we see today. In 2014, it was truly a situation of widespread violence and conflict. There were very serious threats to the Republic’s institutions, which were, moreover, extremely fragile. (…) The State was absent from several localities and regions of the country. Today, the State is present in all 20 prefectures.
Admittedly, the state’s presence needs to be strengthened and consolidated, but the state is present. And so, this reconfiguration is first and foremost an adjustment to the changing situation, both in terms of security and stability. We are reorganizing our presence and our territorial network not to withdraw, but to redirect our presence toward where the most significant challenges lie today, and to reduce our presence in areas where stability has been noted and confirmed.
At this point, I believe this process has been carried out in collaboration with the Central African government. Where do we stand today? And what are the next steps in this restructuring?
VR: It is clear that, as part of my responsibilities, I receive daily reports from various entities on how this restructuring—which we carried out jointly—has been implemented; how all the mitigation measures we have put in place are having an effect or, in turn, require adjustments. But I did not want to base my assessment solely on the reports I receive.
For several weeks now, I have been conducting a field tour of various regions together with the Force Commander, the Head of the Police Component, and several colleagues from key units. We visited Yade, Paoua in the Oubangui region, Bangassou in the Fertit region, and Bria in early October. And last week, I was in the Équateur region, in Bouar. The purpose of these visits is to speak directly with community representatives and local authorities to hear their perspectives and feedback on the reconfiguration and adjustment of our territorial network and the implementation of our mitigation measures.
What stands out from what I have observed and heard is that the way we carried out this adjustment and assessment was clearly prudent, as we did not observe any deterioration in the security situation in the areas where we changed the nature of our presence, from a permanent physical presence to a more regular mobile presence.
Madam Special Representative, in your messages and during your field visits, you have had the opportunity to meet with the local population, local authorities, and other stakeholders. Is the message that “reconfiguration” does not mean a withdrawal of MINUSCA clearly understood by the local population and national authorities?
VR: At no point did I have the feeling that there was a lack of understanding regarding the approach being pursued by MINUSCA.
Because, ultimately, people draw on their own experiences, and in those experiences, they continue to see MINUSCA in various forms of presence. They continue to see MINUSCA in the various projects supporting the extension of state authority. They continue to see MINUSCA working alongside the prefectural committees for the implementation of the peace agreement, the transhumance committees, and the peace and reconciliation committees.
They continue to see MINUSCA involved in quick-impact projects that are still being implemented throughout the country. So, the population realizes that this is indeed a reorganization—it is not a withdrawal, nor is it a disengagement—because they continue to see MINUSCA’s involvement in various sectors and areas.
Today, where there is security stability, conditions are created to focus on socio-economic services and socio-economic development priorities. And this is not something, not a task—that MINUSCA is equipped to tackle alone. MINUSCA has worked to establish the conditions for security and stability, but the government is now undertaking all the essential tasks with financial and technical partners, as well as development partners, to truly reap the benefits of that security where it exists.
That is not to say that there are no remaining security challenges. When we talk about reorganizing our territorial network, it is not simply a matter of adjusting what the public may have observed in certain localities or changing the nature of our presence by withdrawing from certain static bases; it is also about strengthening our presence where the challenges remain the greatest.
We have strengthened our physical presence in the Fertit region, in several localities in Haute-Kotto, Vakaga, and Haut-Mbomou.
A peacekeeping mission such as MINUSCA must remain vibrant, dynamic, and not static, and must evolve alongside the environment it has helped to improve.
On the ground, this reconfiguration has resulted in the redeployment, in certain regions, of MINUSCA peacekeepers from the Force and Police components (…) However, there are areas where incursions or threats are still being reported, and even rumors that are causing widespread fear. Are measures planned to ensure security and stability in these areas?
VR: There are areas where security challenges persist. But we have also observed that these are primarily areas located in the northeast. And we cannot ignore the fact that the causes of the security vulnerabilities in these areas are not solely internal to the Central African Republic.
The conflict in Sudan, now entering its fourth year, has effectively created, along the border that Sudan shares with the Central African Republic, a space that has been exploited by armed groups whose objectives are not peace, security, or stability. It creates a space where armed groups can obtain weapons but also supply fighters and receive support from them. All these factors mean that the border areas will require very special attention.
The members of the Security Council are aware of the vulnerabilities resulting from the deteriorating security situation along certain borders in the subregion. And this certainly contributes to the Security Council members’ assessment and to the consensus that they must strengthen security, including by paying very close attention to border areas.
On a completely different note, Resolution 1325 turned 26 on October 31. Since your arrival in the Central African Republic as head of MINUSCA, you have been personally involved—through advocacy, various contributions, and at the national level—in strengthening the position of Central African women. Could you tell us, with reference to recent developments in the political process, what happened during the combined elections held in December 2025. How do you assess the implementation of this resolution or progress achieved on the ground in the Central African Republic today?
VR: I can only note that, regarding the municipal elections, the multifaceted support provided to women by associations—working very closely with organizations whose mandate specifically includes this, such as UN Women, but even more importantly with the relevant ministry.
I can only note that the combination of all these efforts had a much greater impact on the results of the municipal elections. And so, this leads us to conclude that it is very clear that women were able to gain the trust of local communities, because the candidates in the municipal elections are members of the community—they do not come from far away, but emerge from within the community itself. Thus, this sense of closeness worked in women’s favor.
Another factor that clearly worked in women’s favor—in addition, of course, to all our multifaceted support—was the so-called alternating or “zebra” ballot. Thus, having a genuine legal framework that fosters and promotes gender parity has had a significant impact.
There is room to improve the representation of women in high-level institutions such as the National Assembly. There is indeed room, and this is also a call to the various political parties, as they are the ones responsible for drawing up their electoral lists and nominating candidates.
Last Saturday, during the celebration of United Nations Day, you paid tribute to the Central African people for their commitment to efforts promoting peace and social cohesion. Could you tell us a little bit about what caught your attention to the point that you felt compelled to express this sentiment and pay this tribute to the Central African people?
VR: Well, having served the cause of peace and the people of the Central African Republic, and having worked to promote peace and stability in the Central African Republic for more than four and a half years now, I can only express my deep respect.
I have deep respect for the resilience of the Central African people. No matter what challenges they have faced, including several recurring conflicts, they have never lost their commitment to peace.
They never lost hope. And they never lost that strength, that courage, and that resilience to get back on their feet and support every call for and initiative toward peace.
In closing, today you agreed to answer questions from Guira FM. And as I mentioned at the beginning of this interview, we are launching a new program called “La Matinale.” What do these changes mean to you? And what role do you see Radio Guira playing today in supporting the implementation of MINUSCA’s mandate?
VR: Radio Guira is the radio station of peace. It is part of everyday life for Central Africans. And we want that daily life to evolve alongside the Central African environment; we want it to be a radio station—yes, one that provides news—but also a hub of creativity and a space that allows Central Africans and others to express their observations about what they witness, about the changes in their country, and about their hopes for the future.
