PBC AMBASSADORIAL-LEVEL MEETING ON CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC CONFIGURATION
Statement delivered by H.E. Ms. Beth Delaney, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations
3 October 2025
We thank all briefers for their valuable contributions.
We commend the Central African Republic for its longstanding engagement with the Peacebuilding Commission, as well as Morocco Ambassador Hilale for its stewardship of the Country Configuration.
Chair, I wish to make three points today:
First, Australia welcomes the Central African Republic’s confirmation that it will hold presidential, legislative and local elections from December this year.
Credible, transparent and inclusive elections are fundamental for strengthening democratic governance, decentralization, and achieving long-term stability.
We welcome the support provided by MINUSCA and UNDP on voter registration and safe participation.
It is encouraging to see different arms of the UN system working together under the national leadership of the Central African Republic Government.
We encourage the Central African Republic to continue working with partners to achieve a process that is peaceful, credible, and inclusive.
We also welcome initiatives like the UN Women-MINUSCA initiative, and a UNDP-UN Women joint project – financed by the Peacebuilding Fund – which aims to support the participation of women, youth, returned refugees and internally displaced persons in the electoral process.
This ongoing and critical support of the Peacebuilding Fund is why Australia has more than tripled our contribution to the Fund to AUD15 million per year.
Chair,
Despite progress made, we know funding shortfalls continue to present a significant challenge.
In this regard, we welcome the convening of the September 2025 Investment Roundtable in Casablanca and encourage the Country Configuration Chair Morocco to consider how the Peacebuilding Commission could further assist in mobilizing and aligning international, regional and bilateral support.
Second, we welcome the Government working toward the rule of law and strengthening justice and accountability mechanisms including the Special Criminal Court and the Truth, Justice, Reparation and Reconciliation Commission.
While challenges remain, ensuring the effective functioning of rule of law institutions remains critical to building national capacity to fight impunity, end the cycle of violence and promote reconciliation.
Third and finally, we cannot ignore the current context of broader UN reform, including the Secretary-General’s Review of Peace Operations.
We support reforms which will deliver a more responsive and agile system and partnership models that amplify the ability of all Member states to contribute to sustainable peace.
The critical role of MINUSCA in the Central African Republic’s transition is unquestioned – particularly in this phase of stabilization and consolidation of hard-won gains – but navigating future resource constraints will be a key test.
We look forward to this Commission’s continued engagement with the Central African Republic in support of its peacebuilding priorities.
Thank you.