CAR lawmakers briefed on security sector reform

Newly elected members of the Defense and Security Committee of the Central African Republic’s National Assembly attended an orientation session on security sector reform (SSR) in Bangui on July 24.

Organized by the Security Sector Reform Section of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), the capacity-building briefing was designed to help parliamentarians elected in December 2025 better navigate SSR mechanisms and carry out their constitutional oversight mandates over defense and national security institutions.

During the session, lawmakers reviewed the legal frameworks governing the reform initiatives launched in 2016, focusing on Parliament’s role in monitoring budget execution, ensuring legislative compliance, and supervising resource management. Alexandre Pamphile Maleyombo, Chair of the Defense and Security Committee and MP for Bangui’s 4th arrondissement, welcomed the capacity-building effort, noting that a firm grasp of the legal landscape is essential for lawmakers to exercise effective legislative oversight.

Major General Bruno Wayolo, Minister-Advisor for SSR at the Presidency, called on committee members to take active ownership of the reform agenda to help modernize the national defense apparatus. Carole Baudoin, Head of MINUSCA’s SSR Section, stressed that engaging parliamentarians early in their terms lays a strong foundation for accountable security governance. She added that MINUSCA will follow up with targeted training programs focused on parliamentary budgeting, anti-corruption measures, and institutional oversight to bolster state governance mechanisms across the country.

TE/Sf/lb/abj/APA