UN envoy wants continued support for CAR

United Nations, May 13 (IANS) A senior UN official Monday called for continuous support of countries in Central Africa in their efforts to address numerous challenges, including the threat of rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA).

Briefing the UN Security Council, the UN secretary-general's special representative and head of the UN Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA), Abou Moussa mentioned about significant gains made in recent years in combating LRA's threat.

But the envoy said the Central African countries still face various other challenges that require continued international support, Xinhua reported.

"Despite the efforts made by leaders of Central African countries and their people, the sub-region remains fragile and continues to require ongoing support from the international community, particularly the United Nations," he said.

Moussa highlighted UN initiatives to promote stability in the sub-region, including tackling the threat and impact of the LRA, a violent armed group that has been undermining stability in the region, as well as fighting critical security challenges such as piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea.

According to him, the numbers of LRA-related deaths, abductions and displaced persons have continued to decline, while military operations and the defections campaign have further weakened the LRA.