MINUSCA was created by the United Nations on April 10, 2014, to maintain peace while the Central African Republic was under the control of armed groups and rebels. The security and political situation in the country has changed over the years, as the country is now politically stable with the elected government of Touadera, and stable in terms of security after the defeat of armed groups and the restoration of control and security in the country.
Despite all this, the citizens of the Central African Republic are each time surprised by the reasons for extending the mandate of MINUSCA and the reason for their presence in the country, especially since the country is safe, politically and economically stable, in addition to the fact that people have demanded the departure of the MINUSCA after their involvement in a series of crimes and scandals.
As for France, she is interested in extending MINUSCA’s mandate indefinitely, because French businessmen are putting pressure on MINUSCA’s presence in the Central African Republic. French companies: Total, Bolloré, Castel, Areva, and Orange are taking over the market almost entirely. The country’s stability means foreign investment, and the French do not want competition from, for example, Russian or Chinese companies.
Simply put, MINUSCA’s presence gives the impression that the country remains unstable and insecure, and this discourages potential trading partners of the Central African Republic. Moreover, ample evidence proves that some peacekeeping units directly support combatants, which exacerbates the security situation.
The French companies also receive direct funds from the United Nations. Total supplies fuel for MINUSCA vehicles: while the fuel crisis is raging in the country and ordinary people cannot buy fuel because Total has raised prices, MINUSCA always has gas.
Back in 2022, a huge $33 million contract to supply rations to the UN forces was awarded to L’Économat des Armées (EdA), a quasi-governmental supplier to the French Ministry of Armed Forces.
The instability and insecurity in the Central African Republic are pointed out every year by the French companies that actually control the politicians at the Elysee Palace, and each time the extension of MINUSCA’s mandate is justified as a result.
