Vietnam attends UNSC meeting on Central Africa region
VOV.VN - Ambassador Pham Hai Anh, deputy head of the Vietnamese Mission to the UN, shared some of the difficulties countries and people in the Central African region are facing due to the impact of issues such as violence, challenges relating to socio-economic development, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The UN Security Council (UNSC) held a biannual meeting on June 7 to discuss the current situation in Central Africa and the activities being carried out by the UN Office in the region (UNOCA).
During the course of the meeting, François Louncény Fall, the UN Secretary-General's special representative for Central Africa, presented a report outlined that there remains many challenges regarding general security, economic development, and social issues in the region.
Challenges regarding security in some regional countries are mainly linked to tensions in the election process, the harmful activities of armed groups, and terrorists. Indeed, violence continues in the Northwest and Southwest of Cameroon, parts of the Central African Republic, and the Lake Chad basin.
According to Fall, the impact of violence, the pandemic, and natural disasters continues to worsen the humanitarian situation in some countries in Central Africa, especially in Cameroon, the Central African Republic, and some countries around the Lake Chad basin.
Due to the swift implementation of preventive measures by many countries, the regional COVID-19 pandemic situation is generally not serious, with a relatively low infection rate and death toll compared to other regions. However, the socio-economic impact remains complex due to the inherently difficult challenges.
UNSC member states used the platform to share concerns about security challenges, socio-economic difficulties, and humanitarian issues in this region. They went on to underscore the need to step up co-operation among regional countries, whilst enhancing the role of regional and sub-regional organisations in supporting the peace and security.
The Vietnamese diplomat stressed the importance of addressing the root causes of insecurity through implementing a range of comprehensive measures, including increasing co-operation. He also underlined the need to continue to step up regional co-operation and maintain the continued attention and support of the wider international community.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the UNSC further discussed the recent situation in the Central African Republic along with new challenges facing the operation of the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).
Ambassador Pham Hai Anh emphasised that all parties must comply with international humanitarian law, protect civilians, and consider ensuring the security and safety of the UN Peacekeeping Mission's staff as a priority. This should be done whilst simultaneously helping the Mission to fulfill its mission.
Vietnam currently has seven officers participating in UN peacekeeping operations in the Central African Republic.