Roundup: Experts meet over regional policy on counter-terrorism in Central Africa

KIGALI, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- Security experts on Wednesday discussed implementation of regional policy on counter-terrorism in Central Africa at a security meeting held in Kigali, Rwandan capital.

The 45th meeting of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa (UNSAC) officially opened on Tuesday in the Rwandan capital Kigali.

The central African country hosts the meeting until Dec. 8 with a focus on assessing and examining the security and geopolitical situation in Central Africa and a review of disarmament and arms limitation program in the region.

Political conflicts and terrorism activities in some central African states have led to loss of lives, destruction of property, poverty and stunted economic and social development, said Anne Chantal Nama, the outgoing chairperson of 45th meeting of experts of the committee.

These are fueled by the easy availability of small arms and light weapons, she said, adding that greater efforts are needed to find the lasting solution to the root causes of these conflicts.

Central African countries tend to provide safe haven to armed groups due to the forest cover and topography of the region which has made it difficult to put an end to conflicts and terrorism, she said.

The forum has attracted security experts and observers from regional and international organizations from the 11 member countries of the committee.

Experts' meeting will end on Thursday, followed by the workshop on involvement of the youth in conflict prevention and resolution, the fight against radicalization and participation in an alert system in Central Africa. The ministerial session of the Committee will take place on Friday.

Jibril Shehu Gulan, a representative of Multinational Joint Task Force against Boko Haram, said that there are on ongoing efforts to incapacitate the terrorist groups threatening the safety and security of the countries of Cameroon and Chad.

"Multilateral cooperation is the only way to achieve peace, security and stability. We need to work together to address the threats to security in Central Africa, including the activities of the terrorist groups and the uncontrolled circulation of small arms and light weapons in the region," he added.

The experts meeting argued that poverty and political, social, and economic inequalities between groups have a huge influence to conflicts.

Foreign ministers, experts and observers from regional and international organizations from the 11 member countries of the committee are expected to attend the meeting.

The UNSAC, which consists of the countries including Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Rwanda, and Sao Tome and Principe, meets twice a year at to discuss disarmament, terrorism, armed conflicts, piracy and other issues in the region. Enditem