Item 10: Interactive Dialogue with the Independent Expert on the Central African Republic

Speaker: Claire Denman

Thank you, Mr President,   

CSW commends the work undertaken by Independent Expert Yao Agbetse during his term, and appreciates the insights he has shared in this final interactive dialogue. 

We share the Independent Expert’s concerns regarding the upcoming local and presidential elections in the Central African Republic.   

In December 2025 the people of CAR will participate in both local and presidential elections, following the rescheduling of the former. Ahead of and during the last parliamentary and presidential elections in 2020, the security situation deteriorated significantly, impacting the most vulnerable communities.   

The decision to postpone local elections once again has had a detrimental effect on the trust between the government and citizens, for whom the election and emergence of local officials with a democratic mandate would make the reach and representation of the state more tangible. As the Independent Expert has reported, holding combined local and presidential elections multiplies the challenges involved.  

Mindful of this, we are concerned by the potential impact of budget cuts to the UN Peacekeeping Mission in CAR ahead of the elections.   

Independent Expert, given that intergovernmental institutions such as the UN are grappling with financial and operational challenges, what recommendations would you have for regional and international human rights bodies regarding how they can best support the people of CAR ahead of the elections and in the post-election period?   

Thank you.