A cycle of political-military uprisings since the mid-1990s has destabilized and further impoverished the Central African Republic. Although constitutional order was restored in 2005, the overall situation in the country remains volatile, marked by tensions among and within political parties, a precarious socio-economic situation, deteriorating humanitarian conditions and insecurity in the north of the country due to activities of rebel and criminal groups.

The United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office in the Central African Republic (BONUCA), a field office of the Department of Political Affairs, operates under a mandate from the Security Council to promote peace and stability in the country and reduce cross-border insecurity.

The Office is headed by the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for the Central African Republic, François Lonseny Fall. BONUCA works with the rest of the UN family in the country to encourage national dialogue and reconciliation and to help the Central African Republic enact military reforms, implement human rights policies, train civilian police, and disarm, demobilize and reintegrate former fighters. The Mission also assists in the development of professional media.

BONUCA’s efforts to promote an inclusive national dialogue were highlighted in the Summer-Fall 2008 issue of DPA’s bulletin, Politically Speaking.