Annan urges concrete efforts to ensure peace and stability in Central Africa

While the United Nations panel dealing with security issues in Central Africa continues to make progress, particularly by highlighting the activities of mercenaries and other problems in the region, Secretary-general Kofi Annan says in a new report that more concrete action is imperative to ensure long-term, peace, stability and development.

In his report on the work of the UN Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa, Mr. Annan says that even though the panel had been able to organize only one meeting over the past year, it had once again demonstrated the valuable role it could play in the region.

Indeed, the Committee remains the only forum that allows members of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) to meet on a regular basis to examine and exchange information on recent developments in the areas of peace, security and development in their respective countries and the region as a whole, he says.

The Committee adopted two declarations: one on mercenary activity in Central Africa, and the other one on peace, security, democracy and development in the Great Lakes Region.

“While the Committee’s efforts are commendable, in order for the central African sub-region to attain sustainable peace…and development, concrete actions are imperative,” Mr. Annan says, stressing that it is critical in that regard that the Council for Peace and Security in Central Africa (COPAX) and its structures, in particular its early warning mechanism, become operational.

“It is also vital for the ECCAS secretariat to be strengthened so as to enable it to spearhead implementation of the various declarations, decisions and recommendations of the Committee,” he adds.