BREAKING NEWS:
United Nations Sec. General Inaugurates Central Africa’s Regional Office in Style…Gabonese Govt Host Ceremony, Promises Continual Peace and Stability
*Says: ‘Regional Offices serve as forward Platforms for Preventive Diplomacy and Mediation’
*QUOTE: “For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others”-Nelson Mandela, former South Africa President
BY GEORGE ELIJAH OTUMU/CNNiReport Journalist North America
“Sustainable development is the pathway to the future we want for all. It offers a framework to generate economic growth, achieve social justice, exercise environmental stewardship and strengthen governance”-Ban Ki-Moon, United Nations Secretary General
In ensuring a stable polity, peaceful governance, food security and qualitative economy within the Central African Region, Ban Ki-Moon, the cerebral Secretary General of United Nations (UN) made a historic evergreen impact by bringing the administrative Annex operations of UN for the first time closest to the people of Africa where sustainable peace progress can be monitored and actionable project implementation would be on the fore-front.
In a remarkable feat, never ever done by any Secretary General since the formation of UN, highly intelligent Bank Ki-Moon endeared his way in the hearts of Africans through this great and unequaled, heroic initiative presently trending across all social media platforms in Africa.
He was ably represented today, Thursday, in Libreville, Gabon by Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman, where sustainable development plan for the present and future of Africa were outlined purposely to achieve social justice, ensure peace consistency, exercise environmental stewardship, strengthen governance and maintain speedy economic progress. Certainly, Africa is now in celebration mood. Words going round the lips of majority Africans are: “Thank you United Nations for bringing Hope to Africa.”
Feltman on behalf of Ban Ki-Moon expressed delight and appreciation for the remarkable ceremony and praised the Gabonese Government for taking the lead. His words: “I am pleased to convey my greetings to all those gathered for the inauguration of the new premises of the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA). I thank the Government of the Gabonese Republic for its hospitality, generosity and contribution to regional peace and stability.
“Established only five years ago, UNOCA has proven its usefulness in addressing the peace and security challenges facing the sub-region of Central Africa. I am grateful to the Governments of Central African countries for supporting the strengthening of the Office and recognizing the utility of early warning and early political action as major tools for conflict prevention.
“In its report last year, the High-level Independent Panel on Peace Operations noted that regional offices serve as forward platforms for preventive diplomacy and mediation. One of the main pillars of UNOCA’s mandate is to support regional and sub-regional initiatives on peace and security. This includes cooperating with sub-regional organizations, in particular the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC), the Gulf of Guinea Commission, the Lake Chad Basin Commission and other key partners.
UNOCA and the ECCAS Secretariat recently signed a revised Memorandum of Understanding, which defines the operational framework of cooperation, collaboration and interaction for action in various fields ranging from conflict prevention and resolution to counter-terrorism to assistance with regard to electoral processes.
“As the Governments of the sub-region continue to address the challenges facing Central Africa — including terrorism, the presence of armed groups, illicit trafficking in wildlife, maritime insecurity and piracy and human rights issues — you can count on the partnership and full support of UNOCA, the Department of Political Affairs, and the United Nations system.”
As at the time of filling in this report, from Central Africa to North Africa, West Africa to East Africans and other Africans in the Diaspora: everyone is in a festive mood for having active UN office behind our continent.
