UN presenter warns of deepening security, humanitarian and rights crises in Central Africa

Madame President — A presenter from the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa told the Security Council that Central Africa is facing a "deepening multi-dimensional security and humanitarian crisis," and urged international partners to increase support for regional stabilization and humanitarian responses.

The briefing, delivered to the Council and based on the Secretary-General's report (document S/2026/445), highlighted recent subregional gains — including critical elections and institutional reforms — but said those advances are occurring against growing security and rights challenges that risk undermining long-term stability.

The presenter welcomed the Economic Community of Central African States' (ECCAS) recent appointments to its commission and an ambitious draft strategic plan for 2026–2030. "It is important that this plan is given adequate and predictable support to translate regional commitments into concrete measures," the presenter said, arguing that sustained funding and partner engagement are necessary to implement the plan.

The briefing singled out two "fulcrums of instability": eastern Chad and the Lake Chad basin. The presenter said the conflict in Sudan has had a direct impact on Chad, reporting an influx of over 900,000 Sudanese refugees and 300,000 Chadian returnees — figures given in the briefing — since April 2023. Those flows, the presenter said, have "placed a significant strain on national resources" and contributed to weakened social cohesion in eastern Chad.

In the Lake Chad basin the presenter warned of continued indiscriminate attacks and human rights abuses by Boko Haram-affiliated and splinter groups, and urged multilateral development banks and partners to fund the Lake Chad Basin Commission's stabilization, recovery and resilience programmes, which the briefing described as underresourced.

The presenter also raised concerns about increasing restrictions on civil and political rights across several countries in the subregion. The briefing cited recent sentences of prominent opposition figures, contested extensions of mandates for deputies and municipal councillors in Cameroon, limitations on social media access and a contested nationality law in Gabon, and the pretrial detention of a former prime minister — developments the presenter said have reinforced grievances and narrowed civic space.

Public health risk was flagged: the presenter expressed alarm about an Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and the possibility of cross-border spread, stressing that "access and freedom of movement for health care and humanitarian actors are essential for an effective response" and calling for regional coordination and greater international support.

The briefing noted that Burundi recently hosted the 61st session of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa, which adopted two declarations on strengthening conflict-prevention mechanisms and on the protection of internally displaced persons.

In personnel news, the presenter said the Secretary-General has appointed Mr. Muhammad El Amin Suf of the Comoros as his new special representative for Central Africa and head of the UN office for the region; Mr. Suf is expected to deploy to Libreville toward the end of the month. The presenter closed by reiterating the United Nations' commitment to supporting conflict prevention, mediation and peace consolidation in the subregion and by requesting the Council's continued support.

The Council was asked to consider increased, predictable funding for ECCAS's strategic plan and for Lake Chad Basin stabilization programmes; no formal Council decision or vote was recorded in the briefing.