Special Representative Abarry Highlights Importance of Multilateralism in Central Africa

As the UN marks 75 years of its special political missions, Politically Speaking has been talking with the Secretary-General’s Representatives and Envoys about their current work and how they view the future of diplomacy for peace.

A head of his latest briefing to the Security Council on 5 June, Special Representative Abdou Abarry updated Politically Speaking on the situation in Central Africa and shared his thoughts on the role that multilateralism has to play in the region.

What is your main message to the Security Council on the work of UNOCA and the situation in that region?

Speaking about his message to the Council, the Special Representative said that he emphasized where work needed to be carried out in terms of strengthening governance, protecting human rights, empowering women, and ensuring that young people were involved in political life. Above all, he said, “we need to draw the attention of Council members to the impact of climate change on security dynamics in the region,” and also to humanitarian and displacement issues and crises. These, he stressed, must be addressed in order for Central Africa countries to become stable and prosperous.

In the current global context, is there still a role for multilateral diplomacy?

Special Representative Abarry noted that although multilateralism was currently facing grave challenges, countries work better when they work together, rather than in isolation. “The international community has an interest in rebuilding the norms and values of the San Francisco Declaration,” he said, “which means that we, the peoples, we, the countries, the entire international community, must come together as one in order to advance these causes.”

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