MINURCA mandate ends

The UN Mission in the CAR (MINURCA) did much to restore peace and security in the country, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said last week at the expiry of the UN peacekeeping mission's mandate on 15 February. MINURCA's success "once again demonstrates how much can be achieved by peacekeeping operations in Africa and elsewhere with the cooperation and political will of the parties, their commitment to peace and national reconciliation, a clear mandate, appropriate resources, and the strong and consistent support of the international community," Annan said in a statement. He said MINURCA, which was established in April 1998 following a series of army mutinies in 1996/97, had helped to create conditions conducive to the successful conduct of national elections, the restructuring of the security forces, the training of police and gendarmes and the launching of economic and social reforms. A UN Peace-Building Support Office (BONUCA) is taking over from MINURCA.