Statement by Deputy Permanent Representative of Slovenia to the United Nations Saša Jurečko at the UNSC meeting on the Central African region

I would like to thank SRSG Abarry for his comprehensive briefing. I am also grateful to Mrs. Huré from the Norwegian Refugee Council for briefing the Council on an important, yet often overlooked topic.

I also welcome the representative of Equatorial Guinea to this meeting.

The Central African region has achieved significant progress—particularly regarding political transitions. However, serious challenges remain.

First, Slovenia remains deeply concerned about the violence following the recent elections in Cameroon. We appreciate UNOCA’s proactive engagement to help lower tensions and we believe that a thorough and impartial investigation of all human rights violations should be conducted.

Countries of the region are currently undergoing an intense period of political transitions, elections and broader governance reforms. The upcoming elections in the Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo and São Tomé and Príncipe offer an opportunity to strengthen civic engagement and consolidate democratic institutions. To ensure the credibility of electoral processes, they need to be free, fair and inclusive, with full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of women and youth. They also need to be conducted in an open civic space without restrictions and limitations on political participation.

Second, security developments across the region remain a cause for concern. While each country situation is unique, the underlying drivers of violence are often similar. UNOCA’s role in addressing them is indispensable. To continue this important work and effectively implement its mandate, the Office should be provided with the necessary resources.

We have to remain mindful of the broader impacts of insecurity for the society as a whole. As highlighted today by Mrs. Huré, attacks on education hold back generations of children, limit their long-term potential and negatively affect their countries’ development. They are also a contributing factor to worsening food insecurity, depriving children of school meals and humanitarian school feeding programmes. We thank the Norwegian Refugee Council for its recommendations to this Council and call for their implementation. We also encourage all countries of the region to join the 122 States, including Slovenia, who have endorsed and implemented the Safe Schools Declaration.

Slovenia also expresses its full support for the work of ECCAS. We congratulate Ezekiel Nibigira on his appointment as the President of the ECCAS Commission. We encourage ECCAS members to resolve any differences through diplomacy and dialogue and thus strengthen the effectiveness and reach of the organisation. There is no doubt that regional actors have an advantage in effectively addressing regional challenges. Furthermore, terrorism in the Lake Chad Basin is a cross-border phenomenon that can only be addressed through multilateral cooperation, including the Multinational Joint Task Force.

Finally, let me briefly reflect on the informal field mission of the informal expert group on Climate, Peace and Security, currently taking place in Chad.

The climate crisis in the Lake Chad Basin and more broadly in the UNOCA region resulting in diminishing natural resources has a significant impact on practically all aspects of life, including peaceful cohabitation of communities and security in the region. We therefore strongly support UNOCA’s engagement on climate, peace and security.

In conclusion, reflecting on the past two years of Slovenia’s term on the Security Council – we have followed the UNOCA region closely. We observed how these 11 countries navigated political transitions, confronted security and humanitarian challenges, and dealt with the aftermath of natural disasters. Throughout, the people of Central Africa have demonstrated remarkable resilience and determination to build a better future for their communities and countries. Slovenia will continue to follow developments in the region closely and offer its support wherever possible.

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