UNOCA (Central Africa)
June 2022
On 8 June, the Security Council received a briefing (S/PV.9058) on the Secretary-General’s semi-annual report on the UN Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA) and the implementation of the UN’s regional strategy to combat the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) (S/2022/436). The Council was briefed by: Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee; President of the Commission of the Economic Community of Central African States Gilberto Da Piedade Veríssimo; and Jeanne-Danielle Nicole Nlate, Vice-President of the Coalition des organisations de la société civile d’Afrique centrale pour la préservation de la paix, la prévention des conflits, la resolution et la transformation des crises.
December 2021
On 15 December, François Louncény Fall, Special Representative and head of UNOCA, briefed the Council (S/PV.8933) on the Secretary-General’s semi-annual report on UNOCA and the implementation of the UN’s regional strategy to combat the Lord’s Resistance Army (S/2021/975). In his briefing, Fall highlighted several challenges facing the region, including the threat of terrorism, rising food insecurity, climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic.
June 2021
On 7 June, François Louncény Fall, Special Representative and head of the UN Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA), briefed the Council (S/PV.8787) on the Secretary-General’s semi-annual report on UNOCA and the situation in the Central African region (S/2021/517). Among other issues, he addressed the critical situation in Chad and its relevance to fostering long-lasting peace in the region. He also addressed the situation in Cameroon; the negative effect that various armed groups, including Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province, are having in the region; and the need to promote cooperation with the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).
December 2020
On 9 December, François Louncény Fall, Special Representative and head of UNOCA, briefed the Council on the Secretary-General’s semi-annual report on UNOCA and the implementation of the UN’s regional strategy to combat the Lord’s Resistance Army (S/2020/1154). In his briefing, Fall highlighted a number of security threats in the region and called for greater regional cooperation and coordination to address the root causes of instability.
June 2020
On 12 June, Security Council members held an open VTC (S/2020/542), followed by a closed VTC, on the Secretary-General’s semi-annual report on the work of UNOCA and the implementation of the UN’s regional strategy to combat the Lord’s Resistance Army. Special Representative and head of UNOCA François Louncény Fall briefed. Fall noted that terrorist attacks, maritime insecurity and political tensions in the region have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted that “the slowdown in economic activities due to COVID-19 deprives States of the resources they need to address the socioeconomic impact of the pandemic, with the risk of creating social unrest”, while “the persistence of armed conflicts in some parts of Central Africa undermines our efforts to respond to challenges posed by COVID-19”.
December 2019
On 6 December, François Louncény Fall, Special Representative and head of UNOCA, briefed the Council on the situation in Central Africa and the latest Secretary-General’s report on the activities of UNOCA. Sasha Lezhnev, Deputy Director of Policy at the Enough Project, which supports peace and an end to mass atrocities in Africa’s deadliest conflict zones, also briefed the Council.
September 2019
On 12 September, the Council adopted a presidential statement on the Central African Region, expressing its full support for UNOCA and noting the recommendations of the Secretary General’s strategic review regarding the scope of UNOCA’s mandate and activities.
August 2019
On 14 August, Assistant Secretary-General for Africa Bintou Keita briefed Council members in consultations on the strategic review of the scope of the mandate and activities of UNOCA.
June 2019
On 4 June, François Louncény Fall, Special Representative and head of UNOCA, briefed the Security Council (S/PV.8538) on the Secretary-General’s semi-annual report on UNOCA. The briefing was followed by consultations.
December 2018
On 13 December, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of UNOCA François Louncény Fall briefed the Council on the latest UNOCA report. The meeting was followed by consultations.
August 2018
On 10 August, the Council adopted a presidential statement on UNOCA, welcoming the renewal of its mandate for another three years, from 1 September to 31 August 2021, via an exchange of letters with the Secretary-General. In the statement, the Council expressed its concern at the grave security situation, violations and abuses of human rights, and the continuing terrorist activities of Boko Haram and other terrorist groups in the Lake Chad Basin. It also expressed concern about the persistent violence perpetrated by armed groups in the Central African Republic, the ongoing violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and an increase in violence in parts of Cameroon. In the statement, the Council recognised the adverse effects of climate and ecological changes, and of natural disasters, on the stability of the region. It stressed the need for long-term strategies by governments and the UN, based on risk assessments, to support stabilisation and build resilience, and requested UNOCA to take such information into consideration in its activities. The statement asked the Secretary-General to conduct a strategic review of the scope of UNOCA’s mandate and activities and present recommendations for areas of improvement or new or refocused priorities to the Council by 1 August 2019. The Council expressed its intention to consider these recommendations, including any proposed changes to the mandate, by 31 August 2019.
June 2018
On 13 June, Special Representative for Central Africa and head of UNOCA François Louncény Fall briefed the Council on the latest UNOCA report.
December 2017
On 13 December, François Louncény Fall, Special Representative and head of UNOCA, briefed the Security Council on the Secretary-General’s semi-annual report on UNOCA and the implementation of the UN regional strategy to combat the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). The meeting was followed by consultations.
June 2017
On 13 June, François Loucény Fall, the Special Representative and head of UNOCA, briefed the Security Council on the semi-annual report on UNOCA and the implementation of the UN regional strategy to combat the LRA. Fall warned that the “continued threat of the [LRA] to regional stability should not be underestimated” in light of the withdrawal of Ugandan and South Sudanese forces from the AU Regional Task Force, along with US special forces. He added that he was concerned about the LRA possibly exploiting the security vacuum created by the disengagement of the forces. The briefing was followed by consultations.
December 2016
On 7 December, Acting Special Representative and head of UNOCA, François Louncény Fall, briefed the Council on the Secretary-General’s report on UNOCA and the implementation of the UN regional strategy to combat the Lord’s Resistance Army.
June 2016
On 15 June, Abdoulaye Bathily, Special Representative and head of UNOCA, briefed the Council (S/PV.7718) on the latest UNOCA report (S/2016/482). Ahmad Allam-Mi, the Secretary-General of ECOWAS, also addressed the Council.
December 2015
On 8 December, Abdoulaye Bathily, Special Representative and head of UNOCA, briefed the Council on the latest UNOCA report. Jackson Tuwei, Special Envoy of the AU for the Lord’s Resistance Army, also addressed the Council via video teleconference from Nairobi.
June 2015
On 11 June, the Council was briefed by Special Representative Abdoulaye Bathily on the UNOCA report and the implementation of the regional strategy to combat the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). The Council adopted a presidential statement expressing its concern at the grave security situation in parts of Central Africa, in particular the ongoing crisis in the Central African Republic and its regional impact, the continuing threat of the LRA and the terrorist activities of Boko Haram.
January 2015
On 20 January, Council members issued a press statement welcoming the arrival of indictee Dominic Ongwen to the ICC. Council members recalled that ICC arrest warrants for other LRA leaders, including Joseph Kony, on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity have yet to be executed (SC/11744).
December 2014
On 10 December 2014, the Council was briefed by Special Representative Abdoulaye Bathily on the UNOCA report (S/2014/812) and the implementation of the regional strategy to combat the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) (S/PV.7334). The Council adopted a presidential statement (S/PRST/2014/25) expressing its concern at the grave security situation in parts of Central Africa, in particular the ongoing crisis in the Central African Republic and its regional impact, the continuing threat of the LRA and the expansion of Boko Haram terrorist activities into countries in the sub-region. It also requested that the Secretary-General keep the Council informed through a single report on UNOCA and the LRA by 15 November 2014.
May 2014
On 12 May, the Council was briefed by the outgoing Special Representative and head of UNOCA, Abou Moussa, on the Secretary-General’s report on UNOCA and the implementation of the regional strategy on the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). The Council adopted a presidential statement condemning the actions of the LRA and requesting that the Secretary-General keep it informed through a single report on UNOCA and the LRA by 15 November 2014. The Council also welcomed the appointment of Abdoulaye Bathily (Senegal) as the new Special Representative.
February 2014
On 10 February, the Secretary-General extended the mandate of UNOCA until 31 August 2015 in an exchange of letters with the Council (S/2014/103 and S/2014/104).
November 2013
On 20 November, the Council was briefed by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of UNOCA, Abou Moussa, on the Secretary-General’s report on UNOCA and the implementation of the regional strategy on the Lord’s Resistance Army. On 25 November, the Council adopted a presidential statement condemning the actions of the LRA and requesting that the Secretary-General keep it informed through a single report on UNOCA and the LRA by 15 May 2014.
May 2013
On 29 May, the Council was briefed on the Secretary-General’s report on the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and on UNOCA by Abou Moussa, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of UNOCA (S/PV.6971). The Council adopted a presidential statement condemning the actions of the LRA and requesting that the Secretary-General keep it informed through a single report on UNOCA and the LRA by 15 November 2013.
April 2013
The implementation plan for the UN regional strategy to address LRA activity was submitted to the Council on 19 April (S/2013/240). On 29 April, the Council issued a press statement expressing concern over the pause of BINUCA’s operations to counter the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in CAR.
December 2012
On 18 December, the Council received a briefing from the Special Representative and head of UNOCA, Abou Moussa, on the Secretary-General’s report on UNOCA and LRA-affected areas. On 19 December, the Council adopted a presidential statement requesting the Secretary-General to present an implementation plan to support the UN LRA strategy (S/2012/481) by 28 February. It further requested the Secretary-General to keep the Council informed on the activities of UNOCA and on the LRA via a single report by 15 May 2013.
June 2012
On 29 June the Council received a briefing on UNOCA and the LRA and adopted a presidential statement strongly condemning the ongoing attacks carried out by the LRA in parts of Central Africa; welcoming the development of the UN Regional Strategy to address the threat and impact of the activities of the LRA; welcoming the strong collaboration between the UN and the AU in addressing the LRA threat; and welcoming the official launching of the AU-led Regional Cooperation Initiative against the LRA in March. Earlier in the month, on 22 June, an “Arria formula” meeting on the LRA was co-hosted by Portugal and the UK. The main points emerging from the meeting included the importance of engagement and cooperation among LRA-affected governments.
February 2012
On 29 February, the Council adopted resolution 2039 on piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. The resolution requested that UNOCA, together with the UN Office for West Africa (UNOWA), keep the Council informed on this issue.
November 2011
On 14 November 2011, the Council heard a briefing from the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the Secretary-General’s first report on UNOCA. Following the meeting, the Council adopted a presidential statement commending the efforts made by UNOCA and requesting the Secretary-General to keep it informed on LRA-related developments in a single report on the LRA and UNOCA, to be submitted by 31 May.
August 2011
On 18 August, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General briefed the Council via videoconference. In a press statement issued after the meeting, the Council encouraged UNOCA to establish partnerships with regional organisations in order to face regional challenges, such as the LRA. The Council also requested UNOCA to consider ways to assist states in Central Africa, tackling issues such as security sector reform and promoting human rights.
July 2011
On 21 July, the Council was briefed by the Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs on the LRA in a private meeting. Following the meeting, the Council released a press statement requesting UNOCA to facilitate cooperation between the UN and the AU on issues related to countering the threat posed by the LRA.
June 2011
On 3 June, the head of UNOCA briefed the Council prior to his deployment, giving the Council the opportunity to exchange views with him on the mission’s priorities and expectations.
March 2011
On 2 March, the UN inaugurated UNOCA, located in Libreville, Gabon, to support central African nations in consolidating peace, preventing conflict and tackling cross-border arms trafficking and organised crime. UNOCA was also charged with coordinating UN efforts in the region against armed groups, such as the LRA. The Secretary-General announced his intention to appoint Abou Moussa as head of UNOCA.
August 2010
On 11 December 2009, the Secretary-General advised the Council of his intention to establish UNOCA. After eight months of delay, the President of the Council responded on 30 August 2010 that the mission should be established with a two-year mandate, to be reviewed after 18 months.
