France welcomes UNOCA’s efforts to consolidate peace in Central Africa
New York, June 5, 2023
Madam President,
I would like to thank the Special Representative, the President of the Economic Community of Central African States and Ms Tamoifo Nkom for their statements.
I would like to emphasize three points.
First of all, France welcomes the solidarity shown by Sudan’s neighbors, Chad in particular, in welcoming the refugees. The crisis in Sudan threatens to destabilize the entire region, as the number of displaced people, refugees and food-insecure people continues to rise. France, along with its European partners, is mobilized to respond to the humanitarian crisis and the needs of the population.
Madam President,
I would now like to return to the dramatic consequences of climate change in Central Africa, particularly for the population. The torrential rains that affected the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Uganda, to which you referred, Mr. Special Representative, caused hundreds of victims and reminded us of the urgent need to act. We salute the work carried out by UNOCA in the face of the urgency of climate change. Last March, France and Gabon organized the One Forest Summit to seek solutions to protect tropical forests. It is crucial that this Council listens to its African members, as well as civil society, who are constantly alerting us to the link between climate and security. France calls on all member states to join the collective effort, in particular by joining the United Nations Climate, Peace and Security Mechanism.
Madam President,
Thirdly, efforts to bring democratic transitions to a successful conclusion and consolidate political processes in the region must continue. Elections will be held in several countries in the coming months. It is essential to ensure that these processes take place in an inclusive, credible and peaceful manner, and to guarantee the full participation of stakeholders, particularly women and young people. In Chad, measures have been taken to foster national reconciliation following the events of 20 October 2022. It is important to encourage the authorities to take further steps in this direction. Dialogue must continue in an inclusive spirit, involving all the country’s civic and political forces, particularly with a view to the forthcoming elections, to enable the transition to continue peacefully. In Cameroon, France remains concerned by the situation in the North-West and South-West regions. We encourage the authorities to pursue dialogue with a view to finding a political solution to the crisis. In São Tomé and Príncipe, following the events of November 2022, France reaffirms its commitment to the country’s stability. We welcome the work carried out by UNOCA in partnership with the Economic Community of Central African States to support reform of the country’s security and justice sectors.
In conclusion, France welcomes UNOCA’s efforts to consolidate peace in Central Africa. It encourages the Economic Community of Central African States and its members to pursue their efforts towards regional integration. France also calls on Council members to provide Special Representative Abarry with all the support he needs for his mandate, in particular by adopting a presidential statement.
Thank you.