Mr. President, Distinguished Members of the Council,
It is my honour to present to you the latest Report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Central Africa and the activities of the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA). The report covers the latest peace and security developments in the sub-region as well as the activities of UNOCA that have been undertaken since my last briefing to this Council in June 2017.
I am pleased to report on some positive developments in the sub-region, particularly regarding regional integration and capacity-building of the General Secretariat of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS). However, the overall situation in Central Africa remains marked by tense socio-political situations, economic difficulties, and continued attacks and horrific abuses carried out by armed groups against civilian populations, all of which necessitate concerted national, regional and international action to prevent a further degradation. In this context, I have maintained continuous contact with stakeholders and leaders across the sub-region to facilitate the search for a peaceful resolution of the conflicts through inclusive dialogue.
Mr. President,
In Chad, the Republic of the Congo and Gabon, continuing, serious economic difficulties combined with political and social tensions between the respective Governments and opposition movements remain a cause for concern. In Chad, I have encouraged the Government and opposition leaders to discuss the modalities and timeframe for an inclusive dialogue in order to reach consensus on proposed solutions to the governance and economic issues facing the country and agree on meaningful governance reforms that will create an environment conducive to the holding of legislative elections. In the Republic of the Congo, though several political leaders who were arrested following the 2016 presidential election were released on humanitarian grounds to seek medical treatment abroad, prominent opposition leaders such as Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko and André Okombi Salissa, remain detained without trial. The security situation in the Pool region also remains unresolved, although it has relatively improved and internal political consultations have begun regarding the region’s stabilization. During my visits to the country, I have stressed the importance of stabilizing the Pool region and operationalizing the platforms for political and social dialogue. I have also highlighted the need for a timely and fair trial for the detained opposition leaders, who deserve humane detention conditions.
Meanwhile, in Cameroon, half of the country’s regions are affected by either Boko Haram (Far North), the crisis in the Central African Republic (the Eastern part of the country), or the Anglophone separatist movement (North-West and South-West regions). We must remain alert and redouble our prevention efforts to ensure that prevailing tensions do not deteriorate in the context of the 2018 elections. The situation connected to the grievances of the population in the English-speaking regions of the country is of particular concern. I have maintained close contact with the Cameroonian authorities and continued to underline the need for genuine and inclusive dialogue. While the Government took a number of measures to address these grievances, including reforms in the judicial and education sectors and the release of a number of English-speaking leaders detained in connection with the crisis, there have been calls for a more fundamental dialogue to overcome the marginalization that is felt by much of the population there. At the same time, clashes have continued between radicals and government forces resulting in the death of security officers in the North-West and South-West regions likely to further inflame tensions.
M. le Président,
Au Gabon, le contexte national est caractérisé par la persistance du ralentissement économique et des mouvements de grève, ainsi que le débat sur un projet controversé de réforme constitutionnelle. L’opposition et une partie de la société civile critiquent tant la méthode utilisée, qu’elles considèrent comme non-inclusive et illégitime, que la substance de la réforme constitutionnelle qui, selon elles, représente un recul démocratique. Il est attendu que la réforme soit adoptée par le parlement, où le parti au pouvoir détient une majorité de deux-tiers. La voie référendaire, quoique possible selon la constitution, ne semble pas envisagée. Le candidat malheureux à la dernière élection présidentielle M. Jean Ping et ses alliés ont continué à contester la réélection en 2016 du Président Ali Bongo Ondimba. En particulier, M. Ping continue d’encourager ses partisans à organiser des manifestations publiques en faveur de sa prise de pouvoir, et persiste dans son refus de participer à un dialogue avec le Président Bongo Ondimba.
La situation en République centrafricaine (RCA) demeure une source de préoccupation, avec la persistance d’attaques et d’abus graves perpétrés par des groupes armés, y compris le meurtre de casques bleus de la MINUSCA ainsi que de travailleurs humanitaires déployés pour venir en aide à la population civile. Il est urgent que le processus de paix progresse, dans le cadre de l’Initiative africaine, avec la mise en oeuvre des actions concrètes prévues par la feuille de route adoptée lors de la réunion organisée par l’Union africaine (UA) à Libreville le 17 juillet. Cela devrait déboucher sur une cessation immédiate des hostilités et éventuellement le désarmement et la démobilisation de tous les groupes armés actifs dans le pays. Je salue le lancement des activités du Panel des Facilitateurs de l’Initiative africaine en RCA à la fin du mois de novembre dernier, suivi de ses premiers contacts avec les groupes armés en décembre. Il est maintenant important de ne pas perdre cet élan pendant la période cruciale à venir. La réunion de haut niveau sur la RCA tenue en marge de la session de l’Assemblée Générale de cette année ainsi que la visite qu’a entreprise le Secrétaire général dans le pays en octobre ont joué un rôle critique pour attirer à nouveau l’attention de la communauté internationale sur la RCA. Dans ce contexte, l’engagement entier de la région dans le processus de paix demeure vital, pas seulement pour soutenir politiquement l’Initiative africaine, mais aussi en vue d’apporter des réponses collectives aux dynamiques transfrontalières qui ont un impact sur le conflit en RCA, notamment la transhumance et les trafics. UNOCA, en étroite coopération avec la MINUSCA, continuera de travailler avec la CEEAC et les pays de la sousrégion afin qu’ils jouent un rôle actif dans la résolution de la crise en RCA.
En dépit des efforts considérables déployés aux niveaux national, régional et international pour lutter contre Boko Haram, ce dernier maintient sa capacité à perpétrer des attaques et des abus horribles, aggravant la situation humanitaire, économique, sociale et sécuritaire dans les zones affectées. Il est donc crucial que toutes les parties prenantes et les partenaires redoublent d’efforts pour régler de manière holistique la crise causée par Boko Haram. A cet effet, les conclusions de la récente conférence régionale pour la stabilisation du bassin du Lac Tchad, organisée par la Commission de l’UA et la Commission du Bassin du Lac Tchad, sont des initiatives à saluer et qui méritent le plein soutien de la communauté internationale pour leur mise en oeuvre.
Mr. President,
Concerning the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), in addition to its abuses committed against local populations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Central African Republic and its poaching activities, along with the increased security vacuum following the withdrawal of Ugandan and U.S. forces from the zone, it is important to recall that the areas in which the LRA operates face a myriad of security challenges, including issues related to transhumance, lack of state authority, and cross-border movements of poachers and a variety of armed groups. Furthermore, it is important for AU and troop-contributing countries to the AU Regional Task Force to quickly agree on the reconfiguration of the Task Force and to an increase in support for the training of the Central African Armed Forces. We also encourage the international community to support the AU’s Regional Cooperation Initiative for the Elimination of the LRA.
Mr. President,
The United Nations welcomes the advancements in regional integration, particularly regarding the free movement of persons throughout the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) zone, which is now a reality. UNOCA has continued to place emphasis on support to the overall process of regional integration, including through advocacy for institutional reform of the ECCAS Secretariat and the rationalization of ECCAS and CEMAC. In this connection, UNOCA organized multiple activities designed to strengthen the capacity of the ECCAS Secretariat in mediation, early warning, collaboration with civil society, and gender mainstreaming. UNOCA and UNOWAS strengthened their cooperation in facilitating an enhanced interregional partnership between ECCAS and ECOWAS, which has culminated in plans to sign a memorandum of understanding between the two Regional Economic Communities. Overall, UNOCA and ECCAS continue to enhance their cooperation through the establishment and execution of a joint workplan and the holding of regular meetings at the senior and working levels.
With regard to Women, Peace and Security, the Government of Cameroon launched its National Action Plan for the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) on 16 November. This will contribute to solidifying the Regional Action Plan for Resolution 1325 in Central Africa, which is in the process of being developed with the support of UNOCA. It will also encourage other countries to follow suit.
UNOCA, in cooperation with UNESCO and ECCAS, presented their joint three-year programme on youth at a Pan-African Youth Forum held in Libreville on 30 November and 1 December. The Forum aimed at engaging young people in promoting a culture of peace and non-violence and involving them in the prevention of radicalization and the management of conflicts by creating an early warning system.
Mr. President,
Before travelling to New York, I participated in the 45th ministerial meeting of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa (UNSAC), held in Kigali, from 4 to 8 December. For the first time, UNSAC held a closed-door ministerial session, which focused on the situation in CAR, including the report from the October visit of the UNSAC Bureau to Bangui, organized by UNOCA, as well as the reform of the Peace and Security Council of Central Africa (COPAX). A side-event for youth and civil society was also organized to ensure greater visibility by leaders of the region on the issues youth face as well as their interest and capacity for involvement in conflict prevention and peacebuilding.
Mr. President,
UNOCA continues to place emphasis on efforts to enhance the coherence and coordination of overall UN activities in the sub-region. This includes collaborating with UN Resident Coordinators and Country Teams to engage national authorities on sensitive political issues as well as on longerterm efforts to formulate national and cross-border peacebuilding plans, with the support of the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF).
I thank you for your attention.