54th UNSAC Meeting

The 54th meeting of experts of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa (UNSAC) was held on January 13, 2023 in Brazzaville. The activities of this meeting were officially opened by the Head of the Political and Legal Organs of the United Nations in the Ministry of External Relations of Cameroon, the country holding the rotating Presidency of the said Committee, Mr. Lasconi Moungui Medi.

During this meeting, Mr. Lasconi Moungui Medi reminded the context and the stakes which justify the urgency of deepening the reflection aimed at finding adequate solutions to the factors of instability which concern the Member States, namely the classic security threats such as the uncontrolled circulation of small armies and light weapons and organized crime, transhumance, maritime piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, migration crises, climate change, terrorism and violent extremism with drastic consequences especially for women and children without forgetting the cases of proliferation of hate speech amplified by the pernicious use of social networks.

As Mr. Lasconi Moungui Medi indicated, the report of the outgoing office made it possible to appreciate the efforts made to face these challenges. With particular regard to hate speech, Mr. Lasconi Moungui Medi highlighted the importance of the draft regional strategy for the prevention and fight against this phenomenon in Central Africa adopted during an inclusive Forum in Kinshasa on 24 June 2022.

According to the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Francophonie and Congolese Abroad, Mr. André Poh, it is necessary to take measures for the implementation of this strategy. He also welcomed everyone’s participation in the 54th session of the Committee. He noted that their presence reflects the will and commitment of the Member States who work tirelessly and on a daily basis to resolve the problems facing the sub-region.

 Congo, which is now chairing the meeting of the Committee of Experts, also recalled the importance of dialogue and negotiation to search for lasting solutions to the challenges facing the countries of Central Africa.

It should be noted that the protocol phase was followed by discussions on the geopolitical and security review presented by the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).