BUJUMBURA May 26th (ABP) – The 51st meeting of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Issues in Central Africa which began on Monday continued on Tuesday. The committee experts of had to discuss several issues on security in that region.
According to the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation, Mr. Isidore Ntirampeba, those experts have to review the geopolitical and security situation in Central Africa. Thus, it will be a matter of monitoring the situation in Chad, the Central African Republic and Equatorial Guinea.
Those experts have to focus on violent extremism and terrorism, the promotion of disarmament, piracy and maritime security in Central Africa. In terms of human rights, during the 3 days, those experts have to analyze the implementation of the women, peace and security agenda, as well as the human rights situation in Central Africa.
The theme that was devoted to the 51st meeting is: “The management of election processes in the area of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS)”.
The session of the 2nd day was marked by the election of the bureau of that committee. Thus, Burundi has been appointed to chair the committee for the next 6 months. It is replacing Equatorial Guinea whose term has ended and which was at the chairmanship of the committee for the last 6 months. The first vice chairmanship will be held by Gabon and the second by Angola.
On behalf of the government of Burundi, the permanent secretary within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation considers that appointment of Burundi to chair the committee as “another contribution on the international scene”, making note in that regard that the services of Burundi are appreciated by the peacekeeping missions (Somalia, Central African Republic) in which it participates.
For him, that ascent of Burundi to that chairmanship is an “opportunity to demonstrate our capacity on the international scene linked to our stable situation”. An opportunity also to demonstrate “a firm commitment of the government and the people of Burundi to contribute so that our sub-region can find solutions to the various challenges it faces”, according to Isidore Ntirampeba.
That meeting, which is being held until May 28, saw the participation of delegations from all the 11 member countries: Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Sao Tome and Principe, Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Chad, Rwanda and Congo