Statement by H.E. Sanita Pavļuta-Deslandes, Permanent Representative of Latvia to the UN, UN Security Council briefing on the Central Africa region
9 June 2026
Thank you, Madam President!
I thank the Assistant Secretary-General Pobee for her briefing. As the Secretary General’s report details, the Central African region continues to face multiple challenges. Madam President, I will speak on three of them today – insecurity, governance and climate change.
First, we regret that insecurity is still part of the lived experience of millions of people in the Central Africa region. The conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the very grave humanitarian situation is further complicated by the new Ebola outbreak. We encourage the international community to continue supporting the affected communities to contain it. Central African Republic and Chad are experiencing increased humanitarian and security pressures from the conflict in Sudan. Cessation of violence and sustainable ceasefire is urgently needed for the Sudanese people, and to contain a regional spillover. The Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) continue to pose threats in the Lake Chad Basin. Sustained regional cooperation and support for the Multinational Joint Task Force is vital for an effective response. That said, we underline that any response to security challenges needs to prioritize the protection of civilians. International humanitarian law and human rights law must be respected at all times and by all.
Second, Latvia is concerned by the challenges to democratic governance in parts of Central Africa, notably restrictions on civil and political rights. Respect for fundamental rights and freedoms, safeguarding of civic space, genuine political dialogue are essential for peaceful, inclusive and sustainable development. However, democracy requires its consistent exercise and vigilance. We call on countries in the region, especially those entering electoral cycles, to ensure peaceful, free and fair elections and continued strengthening of their democratic institutions and inclusive political dialogues. We underline that political processes and dialogues need to ensure full, equal and meaningful participation of women, and that youth also are key stakeholders whose legitimate concerns should be addressed.
Lastly, the adverse effects of climate change are starkly felt across Central Africa. Rural livelihoods are under pressure, intensifying risks of recruitment into armed groups. Competition over natural resources, land and water drive tensions that can erupt into violence, as described in the Secretary General’s report. Climate change is contributing to local and regional instability and increasing humanitarian needs. It is important to build resilience of communities in the region, including through climate-sensitive mediation and peacebuilding efforts. In this context, the launch of UNOCA's Climate, Peace and Security Strategy is a welcome development. We encourage future UNOCA reporting to include updates on its implementation.
In conclusion, Madam President, despite the challenges, we also see positive trends. Neighbors come together to tackle shared challenges. Mediation has generated peace gains. To build on the positive, it is important to continue supporting the countries in the region with good offices, preventative diplomacy, capacity and technical support that UNOCA can offer, including in cooperation with regional and subregional organizations. We welcome the appointment of the new SRSG Mr Souef and wish him the best success in this endeavor.
I thank you.