UN mandate extended

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic (MINURCA) to enable it to continue providing assistance in the implementation of “major reforms” and national reconciliation. The mandate was due to end 15 November, and has been extended to 15 February 2000. In his latest report on MINURCA, Annan said the mission’s stay would also facilitate coordination with relevant UN agencies and programmes and the Bretton Woods institutions. Annan said the military component would continue to discharge its present security functions in Bangui and would gradually hand over to local security and law enforcement forces. “The proposed transition would also allow MINURCA to complete a six-month training course for 180 local police recruits,” Annan said. In order to facilitate this period, he said, “a serious and concerted effort” will be required to speed up the programme of demobilisation and reintegration of soldiers. Along with the restructuring of the armed forces, those activities will obviously require additional financial support from the international community, he said.