UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Security Council on Thursday adopted a resolution to renew the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (CAR) till Nov. 15, 2019.

Resolution 2448 also decides that the peacekeeping mission, known by its French acronym as MINUSCA, shall maintain its current personnel level -- 11,650 troops and 2,080 police officers.

It decides that MlNUSCA's strategic objective is to support the creation of the political, security and institutional conditions conducive to the sustainable reduction of the presence of, and threat posed by, armed groups through a comprehensive approach and proactive and robust posture without prejudice to the basic principles of peacekeeping.

The resolution sets as priority tasks of MINUSCA the protection of civilians; good offices and support to the CAR peace process, including national reconciliation, social cohesion and transitional justice; facilitation of the creation of a secure environment for the immediate, full, safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance; and the protection of UN personnel, sites and equipment.

The resolution also authorizes MINUSCA to provide support for the extension of state authority in the CAR, the deployment of security forces, and the preservation of territorial integrity.

In this context, the resolution allows MINUSCA to provide "limited logistical support" for the redeployment of a limited number of CAR troop units and police and gendarmerie units trained or certified by the European Union Training Mission.

MINUSCA is also authorized to help with security sector reform, the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of members of armed groups, and repatriation in the case of foreign elements.

The peacekeeping mission is tasked to promote and protect human rights in the CAR and to provide support for national and international justice, the fight against impunity, and the rule of law.

France first circulated the draft resolution in early November. But by the date of expiry of MINUSCA's mandate on Nov. 15, the French text seemed not to be able to pass owing to reservations by Russia and the United States, two permanent members of the Security Council that have veto power.

The Security Council had to adopt Resolution 2446 to provide a technical roll-over for a month to allow negotiations on the French draft resolution.

Resolution 2448 won the approval of 13 of the 15 Security Council members. Russia and China abstained.

Russia, which is providing weapons to the CAR and has trainers in the country, had wanted its presence and peace efforts to be recognized in the resolution.

Resolution 2448 "reaffirms that the African Initiative and its roadmap constitute the only framework for a comprehensive political solution in the CAR." Although it welcomes the support of "other international and regional partners, including France, the Russian Federation and the United States," in training CAR military forces, the language clearly did not satisfy the Russians.

The CAR has been in civil war since 2012, which is being fought along religious and ethnic lines. The CAR government, which controls only a fifth of the country's territory, wants MINUSCA to take up more security responsibilities. Enditem

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