United Nations: The war in Sudan and insecurity in the Lake Chad Basin pose risks to Central Africa

This came in the briefing presented by Abdou Abare, Head of the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa, before a Security Council meeting on Thursday morning, in which he presented a report on regional insecurity and the United Nations strategy to combat terrorist groups.

Regarding the situation in Sudan, Abari recalled that the conflict there led to the influx of more than 1.2 million refugees, asylum seekers and returnees to Chad since 2023, in addition to 12,930 others who arrived after the fall of El Fasher, noting also that “Food insecurity is a serious concern”.

He said that more than 7 million people need humanitarian aid, while Sudan’s 2025 humanitarian response plan is only 26.4% funded, compared to 41% in the same period last year.

Abari stated that he proposed to the member states of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECAS) to re-evaluate the repercussions of the crisis in Sudan on regional security, in coordination with the governments of Chad and the Central African Republic.

The situation in the Lake Chad Basin

Regarding the Lake Chad Basin, where fighting continues between Boko Haram affiliates and defense and security forces in the four affected countries, the Special Representative called for support for the Multinational Joint Task Force in removing obstacles to its efforts to share intelligence, strengthen integrated police capabilities, and mobilize funding.

He welcomed the fact that by the end of this year, “There will be no political transitions underway in Central Africa.”Like Chad, Gabon is preparing to exit this process at the end of December.

Regarding the presidential elections that took place on October 12 in Cameroon, he expressed his hope that the tensions that followed the elections would subside, and stressed that his office would contribute to strengthening national cohesion.

Financial difficulties

The UN official praised the holding of quadripartite elections in the Central African Republic scheduled for December 28, combining legislative, regional, municipal and presidential elections.

He said that “This is an opportunity to praise the remarkable recovery that the country is witnessing, which lays the foundations for building peace with the parties concerned internally, and led to taking measures to secure its borders.”.

He noted that the Republic of the Congo and Sao Tome and Principe, in turn, will host their presidential elections in 2026. In this context, he noted that the financial difficulties currently facing the United Nations affect the work of his office and its ability to adequately implement its mandate.