PARIS (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 11th April, 2019) The UN Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) will continue to protect civilians in the Central African Republic (CAR) despite the coup in neighboring Sudan, MINUSCA Spokesman Vladimir Monteiro told Sputnik on Thursday.
Earlier in the day, Sudanese Defense Minister Awad Mohamed Ahmed Ibn Auf announced the establishment of a military council that would govern the country for two years. The minister added that President Omar Bashir had been detained and that a three-month-long state of emergency had been imposed in the country.
"Our mission in car has a UN mandate, I can speak only about its activities. Our goal is to ensure protection of CAR civilians. Now we are actively working on supporting the African Initiative and implementation of the peace agreement. That is the most important thing for us," Monteiro said.
He refused to comment on the possible boost of additional security measures by the MINUSCA amid the coup in Sudan.
Sudan has seen months of protests that erupted in the country in December. The rallies were initially triggered by the rise in prices for bread and other consumer goods that greatly increased the vulnerability of Sudanese citizens. The protests then took on a new dimension as Sudanese citizens started calling for the resignation of Bashir, who has been in power for nearly 30 years.
