New York: Despite its wealth of natural resources and potential, Central Africa continues to face serious challenges, from political instability to growing humanitarian needs, warned UN Head of the Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA) Abdou Abarry on Monday. With violence worsening in both the Lake Chad Basin and the Great Lakes, the Security Council convened to examine the threats confronting the wider region.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Abdou Abarry emphasized that while Central Africa remains rich in potential, the challenges remain significant. Abarry noted that countries such as Chad and Gabon have made progress in political development, urging newly elected authorities to capitalize on this momentum to implement key democratic reforms.
In Chad and Gabon, recent elections and reforms have promoted greater participation of women in the democratic process. Currently, women represent 34 percent of Chad's National Assembly, while Gabon's new electoral code mandates that women must account for at least 30 percent of electoral lists provided to voters.
In recent months, online disinformation and hate speech have seen a rise in Cameroon, as highlighted by Abarry. UNOCA reported that 65 percent of political content shared on social media between January and April this year was either false or previously manipulated. Concurrently, Cameroon has experienced a surge in intercommunal violence in the southern and central regions, underscoring the importance of UNOCA's efforts in supporting development strategies aimed at preventing conflict related to electoral processes.