COVID-19 Conflict & Resilience Monitor – 19 November 2021

There are moments of great weight in the history and life of every human community. These moments, which mobilise and challenge both our emotions and our intelligence, often become the crucible for the production of meaning. At the time when the ECCAS Commission is celebrating its 38^th anniversary, I have the impression of living one of these moments generating a new historical content and indicators of a new direction for all. 

Taking into account the demographic dividend represented by our youth, we have a responsibility to history to develop strategies and policies that take into account the individual and collective aspirations of young people. In fact, out of a population of about 200 million in Central Africa, more than 60% are under 25 years of age. This is indicative of a huge demographic dividend, which increasingly aspires to a better life and to assert itself, and which deserves great attention.

In order to strengthen cooperation in the area of peace and security, the Central African Peace and Security Council (COPAX), was created in 2004 not only to deploy military and civilian missions but also to participate in mediation in crisis situations in the sub-region. In this context, and to promote an inclusive mediation approach in Central Africa, ECCAS is setting up an ECCAS Regional Network of Women Mediators which aims at strengthening the role of women in mediation and conflict prevention.

The Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) has launched a competition for finding an anthem and a motto for the Commission.  This will help to finalise the reform of ECCAS which is aimed at the acceleration of the integrating agenda based on clearly identified shared values, around unifying regional symbols.