The United Kingdom welcomes the positive achievements made by UNOCA in confronting challenges faced by the subregion, including through use of its good offices and capacity-building to address the root causes of conflict.
I will make four brief points today.
First, we welcome the fact that Chad's presidential election on 6 May took place under broadly peaceful conditions. But, allegations of irregularities and the denial of accreditation to 2,900 EU-trained electoral observers risk undermining progress towards a return to constitutional order. The UK urges Chad to now set a timeline for local and legislative elections, which are an opportunity to demonstrate commitment to good governance.
Second, as the Secretary-General report makes clear, Gabon stands at a critical juncture following its national dialogue. We commend the authorities' cooperation with UNOCA so far. Delivering an inclusive process for the transition to constitutional order, in accordance with the roadmap to elections in August 2025, will be crucial for meeting the democratic aspirations of all Gabonese people.
Third, we encourage UNOCA to deepen its support to Cameroon in developing a political solution to the crisis in its North-West and South-West regions. The UK is also deeply concerned by the insurgent violence in the Far North region, including the growing use of improvised explosive devices, and we fully support the Multinational Joint Task Force in combatting jihadist groups in the Lake Chad Basin.
Finally, delivering stability in the subregion means tackling the drivers and enablers of conflict. The UK recognises that climate change impacts on peace and stability across the subregion, and we encourage UNOCA to strengthen collaboration with other regional actors to enable a more coherent response to this challenge.
