I. Introduction
1. The present report is submitted pursuant to the request of the Security Council contained in the statement issued by its President on 26 September 2001 (S/PRST/2001/25), in which the Council requested me to continue to keep it regularly informed about the situation in the Central African Republic and about the activities of the United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office in that country (BONUCA).
2. The report provides an update on the political, socio-economic, security, humanitarian and human rights developments in the Central African Republic and on the activities of BONUCA since my last report, of 12 June 2009 (S/2009/309). The report also summarizes the efforts to put in place the structure and resources required for the operationalization of the future United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in the Central African Republic (BINUCA).
II. Political situation
3. During the reporting period, the Central African Republic and its international partners continued to focus on efforts to implement the outcome of the inclusive political dialogue of December 2008, in particular, the aspects related to implementation of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programme and preparations for the organization of elections in 2010.
4. The Dialogue Follow-up Committee, set up on 29 January 2009, has so far held five monthly plenary meetings and three quarterly meetings to review the progress made in the implementation of the recommendations of the inclusive political dialogue. At its third quarterly meeting, held in Bangui on 5 and 6 October, the Committee again regretted the slow pace of implementation of the recommendations of the dialogue. The Committee also deplored the non-implementation of key political recommendations relating to the separation of powers, the establishment of a permanent dialogue mechanism and ending the practice of Government officials holding multiple functions.
5. To help promote national reconciliation, President François Bozizé appointed the former Archbishop of Bangui, Paulin Pomodimo, as the National Mediator, on 27 August, to replace the late Abel Nguende Goumba, who died on 11 May. Since his appointment, Mr. Pomodimo has held meetings with members of the political opposition and the Government in an effort to find peaceful solutions to the country's political problems. In another significant development, the Government of the Central African Republic dismissed Saifee Durbar, a controversial businessman who had been named Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs in January 2009. It may be recalled that Mr. Durbar had claimed diplomatic immunity in order to escape judicial prosecution in London and Paris.