Tomorrow (1 September), the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC) will receive a briefing on the situation in the Central African Republic (CAR).

Following opening remarks by Hervé Djokpe, Permanent Representative of Benin to the AU and Chairperson of the PSC for September, Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS), is expected to deliver a statement. Alice Nzomukunda, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the Commission for CAR, may brief the Council. Representatives of CAR and the Economic Community of the Central African States (ECCAS), as well as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative to the AU and Head of the UN Office to the AU (UNOAU), are also expected to deliver statements.

The PSC last discussed the situation in CAR during its 1338^th session on 9 April, following the conclusion of the combined presidential, legislative, and local elections organised on 28 December 2025 and the inauguration in March of Faustin Archange Touadéra, who was re-elected as President. In its communiqué adopted following the meeting, the PSC welcomed progress in the country’s political trajectory and commended the AU Commission for its support to the electoral process.

Since then, Touadéra reappointed Félix Moloua as prime minister in May, who subsequently formed a new 33-member government comprising six women and several individuals associated with armed groups that have recently joined the peace process. These include Retour, Réclamation et Réhabilitation (3R) and l’Unité pour la paix en Centrafrique (UPC), which ceased hostilities in April 2025 and joined the 2019 Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic (APPR-RCA).

The implementation of the APPR-RCA, particularly the Disarmament, Demobilisation, Reintegration and Repatriation (DDRR) programme, is also making progress following the decision of 3R and UPC to rejoin the peace process. The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic (CAR) is supporting the DDRR programme as part of its mandated tasks. According to the latest Secretary-General’s report on the country, more than 1000 former combatants affiliated with these groups, as well as members of other armed groups and factions, have been disarmed and demobilised since July 2025.  The DDRR programme is believed to have contributed to an overall improvement in the security situation in the CAR.

However, the security situation remains fragile in parts of the country, particularly in the north-west, centre and east. Armed group activity, cross-border security dynamics, criminality, and persistent tensions between herders and farmers continue to threaten civilian lives and undermine stability. The situation is compounded by the limited presence and capacity of state security institutions, which leave communities vulnerable to attacks, intimidation and other forms of violence.

Residual UPC combatants have also reportedly continued to obstruct freedom of movement, hindering humanitarian access and disrupting civilian livelihoods. Their presence has contributed to tensions between pastoralist and farming communities.

In addition, armed groups that remain outside the peace process continue to pose significant threats in western and central parts of the country. These groups have reportedly targeted the CAR security forces, attacked or intimidated displaced civilians, and disrupted local election campaigns. The continued activities of these groups therefore remain a significant obstacle to the consolidation of peace, the extension of state authority and the creation of a secure environment for the country’s political and electoral processes.

The Azande Ani Kpi Gbe (AAKG), a predominantly ethnic Azande militia accused of committing serious human rights violations against minority communities, remains a major security concern in the south-east. At the same time, combatants belonging to the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), the Ugandan armed group that has operated in the Central African Republic for years, have reportedly renewed their military activities in the region. Their resurgence is particularly concerning given the LRA’s longstanding record of attacks against civilians, abductions and other abuses.

In the north-east, the spillover effects of the conflict in neighbouring Sudan remain a major concern. The conflict has increased insecurity along the border and contributed to the movement of armed elements, weapons and displaced populations into the Central African Republic. There have also been reports of clashes between local self-defence groups and Sudanese armed elements associated with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Despite these persistent security risks, there appears to be an assumption that the CAR has entered a post-conflict phase, with overall improvements in its security situation and the completion of national electoral processes. This development has also prompted discussions in New York on the reconfiguration of MINUSCA, including a possible adjustment of its footprint to adopt a more agile posture. These discussions are also taking place against the backdrop of a major liquidity crisis facing the UN.

At the Security Council, the US has particularly argued that MINUSCA should accelerate its efforts to cease activities that are no longer considered necessary and, where possible, transfer responsibilities to the CAR authorities or other stakeholders. Security Council resolution 2800 of 13 November 2025, which most recently renewed the mission’s mandate for another year, also requested the Secretary-General to submit a report by 15 September on the opportunity and feasibility of an eventual handover of tasks to the CAR government or the UN Country Team (UNCT). In this context, the mission has already begun implementing several measures, including handing over certain static security responsibilities to national authorities, closing several facilities—including one of its main sites in Bangui—and redeploying troops and assets to areas experiencing insecurity.

While recognising that the mission needs to adjust to developments on the ground, the host country has cautioned against implementing drastic measures driven solely by budgetary considerations at a time when the CAR continues to face persistent security risks, including the spillover effects of the war in Sudan. In this connection, its Permanent Representative in New York has invited Council members to visit the country to better understand the progress made and the challenges that remain, ahead of MINUSCA’s mandate renewal in November.

At its last meeting, the PSC expressed similar concerns over the financial challenges facing MINUSCA, which have led to reductions in civilian and military personnel, limited air rotations, deferred maintenance, reduced long-distance patrols, and the closure of some military bases. The PSC also warned that these constraints could create pockets of vulnerability and a real risk of a security vacuum. That is why it supported MINUSCA’s continued presence, given the mission’s important role in supporting the CAR’s stabilisation and peacebuilding efforts and called on the Security Council to renew MINUSCA’s mandate.

The PSC particularly directed the AU Commission to undertake a comprehensive study on the potential impact of a MINUSCA drawdown and propose concrete recommendations on the way forward. As the AU is one of the guarantors of the APPR-RCA, the PSC underscored the need to prevent any resumption of hostilities and develop a strategy for AU-led stabilisation support. The Commission’s report and recommendations are likely to inform the PSC’s deliberations tomorrow. The meeting also takes place ahead of the Secretary-General’s report, due by 15 September, which is expected to inform the Security Council’s decisions on MINUSCA’s potential drawdown and reconfiguration in the context of the mission’s upcoming mandate renewal in November. The outcome of the PSC meeting is expected to feed into the UN Security Council’s October discussions on the situation in the CAR and MINUSCA’s activities. It is also likely to help shape the common position of the three African members of the Security Council during these discussions and the mandate renewal negotiations.

The expected outcome of the session is a communiqué. The PSC may welcome the progress made in the political and peace processes in the Central African Republic, including the formation of a new government incorporating representatives associated with armed groups that have rejoined the peace process, and commend the progress achieved in the implementation of the APPR-RCA, particularly the DDRR programme. It may commend MINUSCA for its continued support to the peace process and DDRR efforts, while encouraging the CAR authorities and all relevant stakeholders to sustain the momentum towards the full implementation of the APPR-RCA. The PSC may also express concern over the continued fragility of the security situation in parts of the country and call for strengthened efforts to address these threats, protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian access. Against the backdrop of discussions on the possible reconfiguration and drawdown of MINUSCA, the PSC may underscore that any adjustment of the mission’s presence should be conditions-based, carefully sequenced and informed by developments on the ground, rather than driven primarily by financial considerations, to avoid creating security vacuums and undermining the gains made in the peace process. It may reiterate its support for MINUSCA’s continued presence and call on the UN Security Council to ensure that any transition is accompanied by adequate measures to strengthen the capacity of national institutions and preserve the protection of civilians.

In September, the Republic of Benin will assume the role of Chair of the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC) for the month. The month’s Provisional Programme of Work (PPoW) envisages five substantive sessions alongside other activities including a High-Level Seminar on Women, Peace and Security, Commemoration of Africa Amnesty Month and the International Day of Peace, as well as the 81^st session of the UN General Assembly. Of the five substantive sessions, only one will focus on a country-specific situation, while the remaining will address thematic issues. Four of the sessions will be held at the ambassadorial level, while one will take place at the summit level. It is also worth noting that the High-level Seminar on Women, Peace and Security will take place at the Ministerial level. In addition to the substantive sessions, the PSC subsidiary body – the Committee of Experts (CoE) – is also expected to meet during the month.

The first session of the month is scheduled for 1 September and will focus on ‘Review of the Situation in the Central African Republic.’ This will be the second time the PSC will convene to consider the situation in the country since the country held its presidential, parliamentary and local elections in December 2025, which saw the re-election of President Faustin-Archange Touadéra. The last time the Council met to discuss the situation in the CAR was in April 2026, at its 1338^th meeting. Building on that session, the central point of discussion at this upcoming session is likely to be a follow-up on the Council’s decision directing the AU Commission to ‘undertake a comprehensive study on the impact of the drawdown and possible withdrawal of MINUSCA and to propose concrete recommendations on the way forward.’ This further saw the AU Commission being tasked to ‘develop a strategy on strengthening the role of the Guarantors of the PAPR-CAR, towards an AU-led stabilisation support for CAR and to report to the PSC within two months’ of the communiqué’s adoption. Although not held within that exact timeframe, an update in this regard is imperative. The session also comes ahead of the UN Secretary-General’s report on MINUSCA, due by 15 September. The report is expected to inform the UN Security Council’s consideration of the potential drawdown and reconfiguration of the mission in the context of the upcoming mandate renewal in November. The session therefore provides the PSC with an opportunity to pronounce itself on the matter and thereby inform the common position of the three African members of the Security Council during the discussions and mandate-renewal negotiations.

On the following day, 2 September, the PSC will convene a session on the theme ‘Protection of Child Soldiers in Africa (UNSCR 1612 (2005)).’ It is worth recalling that UN Security Council Resolution 1612, adopted in 2005, established the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism on children and armed conflict, creating a systematic framework for documenting six grave violations against children in conflict zones, which include killing and maiming, recruitment and use as child soldiers, sexual violence, attacks on schools and hospitals, abduction, and denial of humanitarian access. The 1262^nd PSC meeting held in February 2025 tasked the ACERWC to expedite finalisation of the comprehensive study on child soldiers in Africa. This upcoming PSC meeting will be an opportunity to receive an update in that regard, especially given that ACERWC, earlier this year, initiated and commissioned the terms of reference for the study. In its 1314^th meeting held in November 2025 on ‘Children Affected by Armed Conflicts,’ the Council tasked the Chairperson of the AU Commission to ‘commission a comprehensive study on the nexus between armed conflicts and violations against children…’ In addition, recently on 1 August 2026 at its 1357^th meeting, the PSC tasked the AU Commission, in coordination with the ACERWC ‘to organise an advocacy meeting with Member States that have not yet signed or ratified relevant international and continental instruments [including the ACERWC] and the Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict, with a view to securing their endorsement, full commitment, and implementation, and to report back to the PSC.’ The session will therefore offer an opportunity to take stock of trends and challenges affecting the protection of child soldiers, while allowing the PSC to follow up on the implementation of its previous decisions.

On 9 and 10 September, the PSC will be in Cotonou, Benin for the ‘High-Level Ministerial Seminar on Women, Peace and Security.’ It is worth recalling that it was during the inaugural meeting in March 2024 that they agreed to institutionalise the High-Level Ministerial Seminar to be formally called the ‘Swakopmund Process,’ to be held biennially on a rotational basis as a platform for the PSC to engage with local, national, regional and continental actors on women, peace and security matters. This year’s commemoration comes against the backdrop of significant momentum in the Women, Peace and Security agenda, most notably the Windhoek+25 Declaration, adopted in Namibia in October 2025 ahead of UN WPS Week marking the 25^th anniversary of UNSCR 1325. This year’s session, therefore, offers a natural moment to carry forward the momentum generated by the Windhoek+25 Declaration and the wider 1325 anniversary commemorations into concrete, accountable follow-through.

Following this, on 14 and 15 September, the PSC will commemorate the Africa Amnesty Month in Algiers, Algeria. It is worth recalling that Decision [Assembly/AU/Dec.645 (XXIX)] adopted at the 29^th Ordinary Session of the Assembly in July 2017 declared the month of September of each year, until 2020, as ‘Africa Amnesty Month’ for the surrender and collection of illicit small arms and light weapons. A subsequent decision was adopted by the Assembly of the Union, at its 14^th Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union on Silencing the Guns held on 6 December 2020, in which it extended the annual commemoration of Africa Amnesty Month until 2030. This engagement will therefore build on the 2025 AAM’s commemoration held in Uganda, under the theme of ‘Safer Communities Through Voluntary Disarmament.’

In the same week, on 17 September, an Ambassadorial-level meeting will be convened to prepare for the Heads of State Summit in New York, which will take place the following week during UN General Assembly week.

The following day, on 18 September, the only open session of the month will be convened, focusing on the ‘Nexus Between Climate Change, Peace and Security in Africa.’ The climate, peace and security agenda has been a standing agenda item on the PSC’s programme since its 585^th session in March 2016, when the Council committed to annual deliberations on the nexus between climate change and security. This engagement has since intensified, with the PSC now holding at least two sessions annually on the theme. This will be the second session this year, following its 1344th meeting held in May 2026, which focused on the ‘Impact of climate change on crises in the Sahel and Lake Chad.’ From the session, the AUC Chairperson was tasked to undertake a comprehensive mapping of the impact of climate change in the Lake Chad Basin and the Sahel region. In addition, it directed the AU Commission, in close collaboration with ECOWAS, ECCAS, and the Lake Chad Basin Commission, to develop a comprehensive matrix of practical recommendations to address the multifaceted impact of climate change in the Lake Chad Basin and Sahel region. This upcoming meeting will also give an opportunity to get an update on the implementation of some of the decisions from the 1331^st meeting held in February 2026. These included tasking the AU Commission to ‘expedite the operationalisation of the African Humanitarian Agency and the Continental Civil Capacity Mechanism for preparations towards and response to disasters, in particular climate disasters.’ In addition, the PSC called for the finalisation of the study on the assessment of climate-related security risks and the implementation of the PSC Matrix of threats to peace and security on the continent, adopted in August 2025.

On 21 September, the PSC will commemorate the International Day of Peace. The International Day of Peace is observed annually on 21 September, a date established by the UN General Assembly in 1981 and later fixed permanently in 2001 through resolution 55/282. Dedicated to strengthening the ideals of peace both between nations and among peoples, the day is marked by a 24-hour period of global ceasefire and non-violence. This year’s theme will be ‘Invest in Peace – For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day.’

Following that, on 23 September, the PSC will convene a summit-level meeting. The meeting will be convened in New York, on the margins of the 81^st UN General Assembly, under the theme ‘Good Neighbourliness and Regional Responses to Security and Terrorism Challenges in Africa.’ The upcoming PSC session will bring together Heads of State and Government leaders and high-level representatives, including President Évariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi in his capacity as Chairperson of the AU Assembly, to evaluate the AU’s approach to managing inter-state relations and regional security cooperation, reflecting on how good neighbourliness principles can be strengthened to address the escalating terrorism and violent extremism challenges facing the continent, particularly across the Sahel, Lake Chad Basin, the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region. The session is expected to address key issues, including strategies for de-escalating inter-state tensions, such as those between the DRC and Rwanda, and ways to enhance synergies between the AU, RECs/RMs, and international partners in confronting the expanding operational reach of terrorist groups. It is also expected that discussions will focus on addressing the root causes that allow terrorism and regional insecurity to fester, including weak governance, unconstitutional changes of government, and the illicit economies (arms, mining, trafficking) that sustain armed groups.

In addition to the substantive sessions, the Committee of Experts (CoE) will meet two times during the month. On 3 September, they will meet to prepare for the Joint PSC–UNSC and PSC–EU PSC Meetings. On the following day, 4 September, they will also meet for ‘Information on the Commemoration of Africa Amnesty Month in Algiers, Algeria, and the High-Level Ministerial Seminar on Women, Peace and Security (Swakopmund Process), in Cotonou, Benin.’

The PPoW footnote also provides for monthly exchanges between the PSC and UNSC Chairs.