Africa

Abstract

During 2007, Africa made measured progress towards resolving the conflicts besetting the continent. The United Nations maintained its strong commitment to promoting peace, stability and development through seven UN political missions and offices and eight peacekeeping missions, supported by some 84,300 military personnel. The Organization faced tremendous challenges in helping the countries in conflict situations and those in transition to post-conflict peacebuilding in Central Africa and the Great Lakes region, West Africa and the Horn of Africa to return to peace, stability and prosperity. Many countries faced the daunting task of bringing rebel groups into the peace process, concluding the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes for excombatants, promoting national reconciliation and creating conditions for economic and social rehabilitation and development. The Office of the Special Adviser on Africa and the United Nations Office for West Africa continued to bring a regional perspective to issues facing the continent, promote conflict prevention and raise awareness about subregional problems. The United Nations worked closely with the African Union (au), the Economic Community of West African States (ecowas), the Economic Community of Central African States (eccas) and other regional organizations and international actors to assist Governments in improving security, ensuring humanitarian access, energizing peace processes and promoting economic and social development. A Security Council mission in June visited Abidjan, Accra, Addis Ababa, Khartoum and Kinshasa to promote political reconciliation. The United Nations continued to monitor Security Council–sanctioned arms embargos in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (drc), the Darfur region of western Sudan and Somalia.