On 1 July, on behalf the SRSG for Central Africa and Head of UNOCA, Abdou Abarry, the SRSG to the AU and Head of UNOAU Parfait Onanga-Ayanga represented the UN at the 23^rd Ordinary Session of the Conference of Heads of State and Government of the ECCAS; under the theme ‘meeting the challenge of financing the community to accelerate the integration process in the African region and support the implementation of institutional reform’. The Conference was held in Libreville, Gabon, and hosted by the President of the Republic of Gabon, Ali Bongo Ondimba, in his capacity as Chairperson of the Conference of Heads of State and Government of ECCAS.

The meeting was attended by Heads of States and Governments of the Member States of ECCAS; the Chairperson of the Commission of ECCAS, Gilberto da Piedade Verissimo; the AUC Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat; and the SRSG to the AU and Head of UNOAU. The SRSG, the AUC Chairperson and the Gabonese President addressed the opening session of the conference.

In the communiqué adopted after the conference, the ECCAS Heads of State and Government expressed their concern over the crisis in Sudan and its serious security repercussions for Sudan’s neighbouring countries as well as their concern over the persistent violence in the Eastern DRC (DRC). The Conference further commended the efforts of the Transitional Authorities of the Republic of Chad for the successful conduct of the ongoing transition process. Other topics discussed included the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in the Central African region as well as the operationalization of the Regional Hub on Climate Action based in Douala, Republic of Cameroon.