Security Council resolution 1778 (2007) [on the establishment of the UN Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT)]
Symbol: S/RES/1778(2007)
Date: 2007-09-25
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/62 [163] CHAD SITUATION
S/62 [162] UN MISSION IN THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC AND CHAD
S/62 [181] CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC SITUATION
Subjects: UN Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad|UN Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad > Terms of reference|African Union Mission in the Sudan|AU/UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur|UNHCR|UN. Peacebuilding Support Office in the Central African Republic|Communauté économique et monétaire de l'Afrique centrale. Force multinationale|Community of Sahel-Saharan States|UN Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad|Police tchadienne pour la protection humanitaire (Proposed)|EUFOR Chad/Central African Republic|European Union|African Union|Tripoli Agreement to Settle the Dispute between the Republic of Chad and the Republic of the Sudan (2006)|N'Djamena Humanitarian Ceasefire Agreement [between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army and the Sudan Justice and Equality Movement] (2004)|Charter of the United Nations (1945). Chapter VII|PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS|INTERNAL SECURITY|DISPLACED PERSONS|REFUGEE PROTECTION|RULE OF LAW|HUMAN RIGHTS MONITORING|CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC|CHAD|DARFUR (SUDAN)|SUDAN|HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE|POST-CONFLICT RECONSTRUCTION|CIVILIAN PERSONS|REFUGEES|CHILDREN IN ARMED CONFLICTS|CHILD SOLDIERS|STAFF SECURITY|RELIEF PERSONNEL|FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT|TRAINING PROGRAMMES|POLICE|REPORT PREPARATION
Votes in favour: 15
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Voting record:
country: BELGIUM
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: CONGO
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: GHANA
vote: yes
country: INDONESIA
vote: yes
country: ITALY
vote: yes
country: PANAMA
vote: yes
country: PERU
vote: yes
country: QATAR
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: SLOVAKIA
vote: yes
country: SOUTH AFRICA
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                 S/RES/1778 (2007)
               Security Council                                               Distr.: General
                                                                              25 September 2007




               Resolution 1778 (2007)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 5748th meeting, on
               25 September 2007

                    The Security Council,
                    Recalling its resolutions and the statements of its president concerning Chad,
               the Central African Republic and the subregion, including resolution 1769,
                     Reaffirming its commitment to the sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity and
               political independence of Chad and the Central African Republic, and to the cause
               of peace in the region,
                     Deeply concerned at the activities of armed groups and other attacks in eastern
               Chad, the north-eastern Central African Republic and western Sudan which threaten
               the security of the civilian population, the conduct of humanitarian operations in
               those areas and the stability of those countries, and which result in serious
               violations of human rights and international humanitarian law,
                     Reaffirming that any attempt at destabilization through violent means or
               seizing power by force is unacceptable,
                    Recalling that the Governments of Chad and the Central African Republic bear
               primary responsibility for ensuring the security of civilians in their territories,
                    Reiterating its concern that the ongoing violence in Darfur, eastern Chad and
               the north-eastern Central African Republic might further negatively affect the
               region,
                     Recalling the Tripoli Agreement of 8 February 2006 and the other bilateral and
               multilateral agreements between the Governments of the Sudan, Chad and the
               Central African Republic, stressing that a proper settlement of the Darfur issue and
               an improvement of relations between Sudan, Chad and the Central African Republic
               will contribute to long-term peace and stability in the region, and welcoming the
               communiqué of the 70th meeting of the Peace and Security Council of the African
               Union, concerning the relations between Chad and the Sudan, which was held on
               12 and 13 February 2007,
                    Reiterating its full support for the efforts of the Secretary-General and of the
               African Union to revive the peace process begun by the Darfur Peace Agreement,
               consolidate the ceasefire and reinforce the peacekeeping presence in Darfur,



07-51615 (E)
*0751615*

S/RES/1778 (2007)


                    Reaffirming its resolutions 1325 (2000) on women, peace and security, 1502
               (2003) on the protection of humanitarian and United Nations personnel, and 1674
               (2006) on the protection of civilians in armed conflict,
                    Reaffirming its resolution 1612 (2005) on children in armed conflict, taking
               note of the report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict in Chad
               (S/2007/400) and the recommendations therein, and recalling the conclusions
               regarding Chad subsequently adopted by its Working Group on Children and Armed
               Conflict (S/AC.51/2007/16),
                    Bearing in mind the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees of 28 July
               1951 and its additional protocol of 16 December 1966,
                     Emphasizing the need to preserve the civilian nature of the refugee camps and
               internally displaced persons sites and to prevent any recruitment of individuals,
               including children, which might be carried out in or around the camps by armed
               groups,
                    Welcoming the signing on 13 August 2007 in N’Djamena of the Political
               Agreement for the reinforcement of the democratic process in Chad,
                     Having examined the report of the Secretary-General (S/2007/488) of
               10 August 2007 (hereinafter referred to as “the report of the Secretary-General”) and
               its recommendations for the deployment of an international presence in the regions
               of eastern Chad and the north-eastern Central African Republic indicated in
               paragraph 37 thereof (hereinafter referred to as “eastern Chad and the north-eastern
               Central African Republic”),
                     Welcoming the readiness of the European Union, expressed at the meeting of
               the Council of the European Union held on 23 and 24 July 2007, to consider the
               establishment, for a 12-month duration, of an operation to support the United
               Nations presence in eastern Chad and the north-eastern Central African Republic,
               and taking note of the letter dated 17 September 2007 from the Secretary-General/High Representative of the Council of the European Union (S/2007/560,
               annex),
                     Welcoming the letter from the authorities of Chad dated 11 September 2007
               (S/2007/540) and the letter from the authorities of the Central African Republic
               dated 17 September 2007 (S/2007/551) approving the deployment of an
               international presence provided by the United Nations and the European Union,
                    Determining that the situation in the region of the border between the Sudan,
               Chad and the Central African Republic constitutes a threat to international peace and
               security,
                     1.    Approves the establishment in Chad and the Central African Republic, in
               accordance with paragraphs 2 to 6 below and in consultation with the authorities of
               Chad and the Central African Republic, of a multidimensional presence intended to
               help create the security conditions conducive to a voluntary, secure and sustainable
               return of refugees and displaced persons, inter alia by contributing to the protection
               of refugees, displaced persons and civilians in danger, by facilitating the provision
               of humanitarian assistance in eastern Chad and the north-eastern Central African
               Republic and by creating favourable conditions for the reconstruction and economic
               and social development of those areas;



2                                                                                                       07-51615

                                                                                              S/RES/1778 (2007)


                 2.   Decides that the multidimensional presence shall include, for a period of
           one year, a United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (the
           acronym MINURCAT is to be used in all languages), with the following mandate in
           eastern Chad and the north-eastern Central African Republic, in liaison with the
           United Nations country team:

           Security and protection of civilians
                (a) To select, train, advise and facilitate support to elements of the Police
           tchadienne pour la protection humanitaire referred to in paragraph 5;
                (b) To liaise with the national army, the gendarmerie and police forces, the
           nomad national guard, the judicial authorities and prison officials in Chad and the
           Central African Republic to contribute to the creation of a more secure environment;
                (c) To liaise with the Chadian Government and the Office of the United
           Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in support of their efforts to
           relocate refugee camps which are in close proximity to the border, and to provide to
           UNHCR, on availability and cost-reimbursable basis, logistical assistance for that
           purpose;
                (d) To liaise closely with the Sudanese Government, the African Union, the
           African Union Mission in the Sudan (AMIS), the African Union/United Nations
           Hybrid operation in Darfur (UNAMID) which will succeed it, the United Nations
           Peacebuilding Support Office in the Central African Republic (BONUCA), the
           Multinational Force of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community
           (FOMUC) and the Community of Sahelo-Saharan States (CEN-SAD) to exchange
           information on emerging threats to humanitarian activities in the region;

           Human rights and the rule of law
                (e) To contribute to the monitoring and to the promotion and protection of
           human rights, with particular attention to sexual and gender-based violence, and to
           recommend action to the competent authorities, with a view to fighting impunity;
                 (f) To support, within its capabilities, efforts aimed at strengthening the
           capacity of the Governments of Chad and the Central African Republic and civil
           society through training in international human rights standards, and efforts to put
           an end to recruitment and use of children by armed groups;
                (g) To assist the Governments of Chad and, notwithstanding the mandate of
           BONUCA, the Central African Republic in the promotion of the rule of law,
           including through support for an independent judiciary and a strengthened legal
           system, in close coordination with United Nations agencies;
                3.    Decides that MINURCAT shall include a maximum of 300 police and
           50 military liaison officers and an appropriate number of civilian personnel;
                 4.   Requests the Secretary-General and the Governments of Chad and the
           Central African Republic to conclude status-of-forces agreements for MINURCAT
           as soon as possible, taking into account General Assembly resolution 59/47 on the
           scope of legal protection under the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and
           Associated Personnel, General Assembly resolution 60/42 on the Optional Protocol
           to the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel and
           General Assembly resolution 61/133 on the Safety and Security of Humanitarian


07-51615                                                                                                     3

S/RES/1778 (2007)


               Personnel and the Protection of United Nations Personnel, and notes that the model
               status-of-forces agreement of 9 October 1990 (A/45/594) shall apply provisionally
               pending the conclusion of such an agreement with one or other of the countries;
                     5.    Endorses the police concept referred to in the report of the Secretary-General, including the provisions regarding the establishment of the Police
               tchadienne pour la protection humanitaire (PTPH), which would be dedicated
               exclusively to maintaining law and order in refugee camps, sites with concentrations
               of internally displaced persons and key towns in neighbouring areas and to assisting
               in securing humanitarian activities in eastern Chad, and, in this regard, encourages
               the Government of Chad to establish the PTPH, emphasizes the urgent need to
               provide logistical and financial support to the PTPH and requests the Secretary-General to mobilize member States and institutional donors for this purpose;
                    6.    Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,
                    (a) Authorizes the European Union to deploy, for a period of one year from
               the date that its initial operating capability is declared by the European Union in
               consultation with the Secretary-General, an operation (hereinafter referred to as “the
               European Union operation”) aimed at supporting the elements referred to in
               paragraphs 2 to 4, and decides that this operation shall be authorized to take all
               necessary measures, within its capabilities and its area of operation in eastern Chad
               and the north-eastern Central African Republic, to fulfil the following functions, in
               accordance with the arrangement to be concluded between the European Union and
               the United Nations, in liaison with the Governments of Chad and the Central
               African Republic:
                    (i) To contribute to protecting civilians in danger, particularly refugees and
                    displaced persons;
                    (ii) To facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid and the free movement of
                    humanitarian personnel by helping to improve security in the area of
                    operations;
                    (iii) To contribute to protecting United Nations personnel, facilities,
                    installations and equipment and to ensuring the security and freedom of
                    movement of its staff and United Nations and associated personnel;
                     (b) Authorizes the European Union operation, at the close of the period
               referred to in subparagraph a, to take all appropriate measures to achieve an orderly
               disengagement, by means including fulfilment of the functions indicated in
               subparagraph a, and within the limits of its residual capacity;
                     7.    Invites the European Union, as may be required for the proper execution
               of the mandate of its operation, to take part in the liaison and support activities
               referred to in paragraphs 2 (b) to 2 (d);
                    8.    Invites the European Union operation to immediately take all appropriate
               measures to prepare its full operational capability and requests the Secretary-General to coordinate closely with the European Union particularly with regard to
               those arrangements required to ensure appropriate protection for United Nations
               personnel, facilities, installations and equipment and ensure freedom of movement
               of United Nations staff;




4                                                                                                       07-51615

                                                                                                S/RES/1778 (2007)


                9.   Requests the European Union, the Secretary-General and the
           Governments of Chad and the Central African Republic to cooperate closely
           throughout the period of deployment of the European Union operation, until its
           complete disengagement;
                 10. Requests the Secretary-General to report to it, after due consultations
           with the Governments of Chad and the Central African Republic, six months from
           the date indicated in paragraph 6, subparagraph a, on the arrangements for following
           up the intended European Union operation which has been authorized for a one-year
           period, including a possible United Nations operation, depending on the
           developments in the situation, and notes that, to that end, the United Nations and the
           European Union shall perform an evaluation of needs before the date in question;
                11. Invites the Governments of Chad and the Central African Republic and
           the European Union to conclude status-of-forces agreements as soon as possible for
           the operation referred to in paragraph 6;
                12. Requests the European Union to report to the Security Council, in the
           middle and at the end of the period referred to in paragraph 6, subparagraph a,
           above, on how its operation will fulfil its mandate;
                13. Calls upon all the parties to cooperate fully in the deployment and
           operations of MINURCAT and the European Union operation, including by
           guaranteeing the security and freedom of movement of their personnel and
           associated personnel;
                14. Urges all the Member States, particularly the States bordering Chad and
           the Central African Republic, to facilitate the delivery to Chad and the Central
           African Republic freely, without obstacles or delay of all personnel, equipment,
           provisions, supplies and other goods, including vehicles and spare parts, intended
           for MINURCAT and the European Union operation;
                 15. Encourages the respective Governments of the Sudan, Chad and the
           Central African Republic to ensure that their territories are not used to undermine
           the sovereignty of others and to cooperate actively with a view to implementing the
           Tripoli Agreement and other agreements aimed at ensuring security along their
           common borders;
                 16. Encourages the authorities and political stakeholders in Chad and the
           Central African Republic to pursue their efforts of national dialogue, with respect
           for the constitutional frameworks;
                 17. Reaffirms the obligation of all parties to implement fully the rules and
           principles of international humanitarian law, particularly those regarding the
           protection of humanitarian personnel, and furthermore requests all the parties
           involved to provide humanitarian personnel with immediate, free and unimpeded
           access to all persons in need of assistance, in accordance with applicable
           international law;
                18. Takes note of the measures already undertaken by the authorities of Chad
           to put an end to the recruitment and use of children by armed groups, encourages
           them to pursue their cooperation with United Nations bodies, particularly UNICEF,
           and calls on all the parties involved to ensure that children are protected;




07-51615                                                                                                       5

S/RES/1778 (2007)


                    19. Exhorts the donor community to redouble its efforts to address the
               humanitarian, reconstruction and development needs of Chad and the Central
               African Republic;
                     20. Requests the Secretary-General to keep it informed of the liaison
               arrangements set out in OP2-b to 2-d above, and to report regularly on the security
               and humanitarian situation, including movements of refugees and internally
               displaced persons, in eastern Chad, the north-eastern Central African Republic and
               the region, of progress towards the objective of helping to create the security
               conditions conducive to a voluntary, secure and sustainable return of refugees and
               displaced persons and of the implementation of the mandate of MINURCAT, and to
               submit to it a report on that matter every three months;
                    21.   Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.




6                                                                                                    07-51615