Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian peacekeepers will play a decisive role in stabilizing the Central African Republic as it seeks to extend state authority and bring armed groups into the peace process, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Monday.
Speaking to Indonesian military personnel preparing to deploy to the UN mission in the Central African Republic, at the Peacekeeping Mission Centre in Sentul, West Java, he said the mission was critical to restoring stability.
The troops' mission would be decisive in fully stabilizing the country, Guterres said, adding that the mission would be critical to ensuring state institutions function nationwide and remaining armed groups are progressively integrated into the peace process.
Despite progress in peace efforts, armed groups remain active in the Central African Republic, one of the world's poorest countries, he said.
Guterres, who has worked on the country for two decades, first as UN refugee chief and later as secretary-general, said the state until recently had virtually no presence in most of its territory.
The Indonesian deployment, which will work alongside Portuguese personnel already in the country, could eventually allow the United Nations to downsize its mission progressively if it succeeds, he said.
He said people in the Central African Republic appreciated the work of UN peacekeepers and hoped the Indonesian contingent would succeed.
Guterres is visiting Indonesia from Sept. 17 to 19 to discuss cooperation between Jakarta and the United Nations in the multilateral system.
He met President Prabowo Subianto on Sunday and praised Indonesia's efforts to support the Palestinian people.
Guterres is due to leave office as U.N. secretary-general in December 2026.
He was also scheduled to deliver a speech titled "Eight Decades of the United Nations: What Comes Next?" at Indonesia's foreign ministry in Jakarta.
Related news: Guterres praises RI's contribution to the UN peacekeeping missions
Related news: Cabinet Secretariat outlines Prabowo-Guterres meeting details
Translator: Kuntum Khaira Riswan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2026