Key facts

• Cholera outbreaks are active in six countries across West and Central Africa, spread along two major transmission corridors
• Nigeria has the region’s largest outbreak: over 50,000 cases and 338 deaths since 1 January
• The DRC has recorded the highest death toll: nearly 700 deaths from more than 30,400 cases
• UNICEF is calling for $15 million in additional funding to scale up its response over the next six months

Seasonal rains, flooding, population displacement and cross-border transmission are accelerating the spread of the sometimes-deadly waterborne disease, which is both preventable and treatable.

Transmission corridors

The outbreaks are concentrated along two major routes. In the Lake Chad Basin, the same Vibrio cholerae O1 Ogawa strain is affecting Chad, Cameroon and Nigeria. 

In the Congo River Basin, outbreaks are linking the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic (CAR).

Flooding along both corridors is contaminating water sources, damaging sanitation infrastructure and cutting off access to vulnerable communities.

Children are bearing a disproportionate share of the burden. In CAR, children under 10 account for 44 per cent of reported cases. In Chad, nearly two-thirds of infections are among children under 15. In Cameroon, the median age of patients is just 10.

Hardest hit

Nigeria has the largest outbreak in the region, with more than 50,000 cumulative cases and 338 deaths recorded since 1 January, driven largely by a major outbreak in Borno state.

The DRC has reported more than 30,400 cases and nearly 700 deaths – the highest death toll of any affected country.

Call for urgent funding

“This outbreak is no longer confined by borders,” said Gilles Fagninou, UNICEF Regional Director for West and Central Africa on Tuesday. “It is moving along shared rivers, trade routes and population movements, putting millions of children at risk.”

He said every new infection was a reminder that millions of children are still being denied access to safe water, and that stopping cholera required urgency, investment and regional solidarity.

UNICEF and partners, working with national and sub-national authorities, are expanding access to safe water and sanitation, strengthening disease surveillance, supplying essential health materials and supporting oral cholera vaccination campaigns. 

The agency is also coordinating with the World Health Organization and Africa CDC along key transmission routes.

Racial issues, long a relatively muted feature of Johor’s political landscape, have become increasingly prominent ahead of the Jul 11 state election, with political parties intensifying efforts to win over ethnic Chinese voters in a contest that could shape the outcome in several closely fought constituencies.

Political analysts say national controversies affecting the Chinese Malaysian community, coupled with race-based messaging from competing coalitions, have transformed the Chinese electorate into one of the election’s most fiercely contested voting blocs. While such rhetoric is unlikely to fundamentally alter voting behaviour across all communities, observers believe it could prove decisive in mixed and Chinese-majority constituencies where victory margins are expected to be narrow.

Johor’s demographic composition broadly reflects Malaysia’s national population, with Malays accounting for roughly 60 per cent of residents, Chinese around 30 per cent and other ethnic groups making up the remaining 10 per cent. However, Chinese voters form the largest electoral bloc in approximately 12 of Johor’s 56 state constituencies, most of them concentrated in urban areas including Johor Bahru, Skudai and Batu Pahat.

The competition for these seats has intensified as both the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition in Johor and opposition alliance Pakatan Harapan (PH) seek to consolidate support ahead of polling day.

One of the most closely watched contests is in Johor Jaya, where PH is defending a constituency it has held for three consecutive elections. The seat has a substantial Chinese electorate, with ethnic Chinese accounting for 44 per cent of registered voters.

Democratic Action Party (DAP) candidate Lee Wern Yiing, contesting her first election after serving for eight years as a special officer to incumbent assemblyman Liow Cai Tung, said race-related messaging has become far more pronounced than in previous state polls.

Among the controversies drawing attention was an AI-generated image circulated online depicting Chinese women wearing PH T-shirts together with hijabs.

The image drew criticism from DAP leaders, who argued it sought to portray PH candidates and supporters in a misleading and culturally insensitive manner.

Johor DAP chairman Teo Nie Ching said the image appeared designed to undermine PH by portraying Chinese supporters wearing the Muslim headscarf inappropriately.

The image was reportedly shared on social media by former Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) local councillor Lee Ching Kong, accompanied by remarks critical of PH.

“I don’t think that is right,” Lee Wern Yiing said.

“If you want to contest an election, debate policies and issues that help the people, not resort to tactics that disrespect women and different races.”

The Johor Jaya contest features a four-cornered fight involving Lee, MCA candidate Chan San San, Parti Bersama Malaysia’s Lau Yi Leong and independent candidate HP Lim.

Other constituencies where Chinese voters represent the largest voting bloc include Perling, Stulang, Puteri Wangsa and Skudai, making them among the most closely watched battlegrounds of the election.

BN, which currently governs Johor, and PH are rivals at the state level despite serving together in the federal unity government.

DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke described the circulation of the AI-generated image as “an outdated tactic that people will reject.”

MCA declined to comment on the controversy, while Lee Ching Kong told local media that he had not created the image but merely reshared it after finding it in a Facebook group.

He said his social media post was primarily intended to encourage Malaysians working in Singapore to return home to vote.

Beyond social media controversies, campaign debates have increasingly centred on issues viewed as particularly significant to Chinese Malaysians.

These include the Selangor government’s decision to phase out pig farming in the state and renewed calls for federal recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC), awarded by independent Chinese-medium schools.

The UEC has remained a longstanding political issue, with Chinese education groups arguing that formal recognition would expand higher education opportunities for graduates.

Bersama’s Perling candidate Boo Wei Han drew criticism from some online users after attacking Selangor’s pig farming policy during a campaign rally.

The issue is particularly sensitive in Malaysia because pork production and consumption remain closely associated with the Chinese community, while the country’s Muslim majority does not consume pork due to religious prohibitions.

At the same time, political messaging directed at Malay-Muslim voters has also become more prominent.

Leaders from Perikatan Nasional (PN), particularly Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS), have intensified appeals centred on Malay political leadership and Islamic governance.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang urged supporters to back BN candidates in constituencies where PN is not fielding candidates, declaring that “what is important is that Johor is ruled by Malay Muslims.”

Former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad also entered the campaign debate by warning that Malays risked “losing Malay land” if political power shifted away from the community.

Observers note that such race-based appeals have historically been less common in Johor compared with several northern and eastern Malaysian states, where identity politics has traditionally played a larger role.

Residents interviewed during the campaign likewise described Johor as generally favouring more moderate political discourse.

Political analyst Syaza Shukri said Johor has historically been less susceptible to racial politics, although parties continue to rely on ethnic narratives because they believe such strategies remain effective in mobilising core supporters.

“Racial politics will continue as long as parties view one another through a racial lens,” she said.

“I think the parties will continue with this tried-and-tested strategy because the coalitions themselves are divided along those lines.”

The state election features contests in all 56 constituencies, with both BN and PH fielding candidates statewide.

Other parties in the race include PN, currently the largest opposition bloc in Parliament, and Parti Bersama Malaysia led by former economy minister Rafizi Ramli.

The election is also being closely watched as an indicator of whether DAP continues to command overwhelming support among Chinese voters in Peninsular Malaysia.

For decades, DAP has dominated the Chinese vote, particularly while serving as an opposition party at the federal level.

However, the coalition suffered a major setback during Sabah’s state election last November.

DAP lost all eight constituencies it contested, while PH secured only one seat in the 73-member Sabah assembly.

The disappointing result prompted renewed discussion over whether DAP’s traditional support among Chinese voters is beginning to weaken.

In response, the party has adopted a more assertive stance on issues important to its traditional support base, including renewed advocacy for UEC recognition and other reforms promised under the federal Madani administration.

Analysts caution, however, that Sabah’s political environment differs significantly from Peninsular Malaysia.

Former lawmaker Ong Kian Ming, now an adjunct professor at Taylor’s University, said local parties in Sabah offered Chinese voters credible alternatives unavailable elsewhere.

“Unlike Sabah, where Parti Warisan Sabah was a genuine alternative for Chinese voters, in Peninsular Malaysia, Chinese voters have far fewer alternatives outside DAP and PH,” he said.

Johor therefore represents the first significant electoral test of whether DAP’s Chinese support base in Peninsular Malaysia has genuinely softened.

Much attention will focus on whether DAP can successfully defend its 10 Johor state seats or whether MCA can regain additional ground.

MCA is contesting 15 constituencies and hopes to build on gains made during the 2022 state election, when it captured four Chinese-majority seats previously held by DAP: Paloh, Pekan Nenas, Yong Peng and Bekok.

Johor caretaker executive councillor Lee Ting Han, an MCA leader defending Paloh, said internal BN surveys indicate Chinese support has shifted towards BN during the current term.

“PH has always assumed Chinese voters — including those working in Singapore — would naturally vote for them. I don’t think that’s true anymore,” he said.

According to Lee, Johor voters have become increasingly pragmatic, placing greater emphasis on government performance and cost-of-living concerns than on longstanding political loyalties.

DAP acknowledges that convincing voters remains an ongoing challenge.

Lee Wern Yiing admitted the Madani government has not fully met public expectations, particularly in education policy, but argued that reforms are gradually being implemented.

She pointed to the federal Cabinet’s decision in May to expand higher education pathways for UEC graduates as evidence of incremental progress.

“The Madani government’s score is not 100 out of 100. They can do better, especially on education, and we aim to make small improvements to close this gap,” she said.

“We have made progress but to implement these policies in full, we need more time.”

Among some voters, support for DAP nevertheless remains resilient.

Retiree See Boon Leong, 71, said he intends to continue supporting PH because he believes DAP best represents Chinese community interests, particularly on education and business-related issues.

“We have our gripes about DAP, but when it comes to voting, we’ll continue supporting them and PH,” said the Penggaram voter.

Voter turnout could ultimately prove just as important as changing political sentiment.

Johor’s 2022 state election recorded turnout of just above 50 per cent, enabling BN to secure a commanding victory with 40 of the state’s 56 seats.

Later that year, however, turnout reached approximately 75 per cent during the general election, where PH won 14 of Johor’s 26 parliamentary constituencies.

Ong expects turnout on Jul 11 to fall somewhere between those two figures.

He believes lower participation among non-Malay voters would likely favour BN over PH.

Meanwhile, BN faces another strategic challenge.

Analysts say perceptions of closer cooperation between UMNO and PAS could complicate BN’s efforts to attract additional Chinese support.

Earlier assessments suggested PN’s decision to contest only 33 constituencies, despite initially signalling it would field candidates statewide, reduced the likelihood of splitting the Malay vote and could indirectly benefit BN.

PAS has openly encouraged supporters to back BN candidates where PN is absent.

Abdul Hadi’s statement that PAS did not want Johor governed by “liberals or non-Muslims” fuelled speculation that closer cooperation between PAS and UMNO may emerge in future elections.

Some analysts believe such messaging may instead encourage greater Chinese voter mobilisation behind PH.

Azmi Hassan, a senior fellow at the Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research, said perceptions of a PAS-UMNO alliance could create what he described as a “siege mentality” among Chinese voters.

“Chinese voters in Johor will not be receptive to a Malay parties-centric pact, and they will more likely come out to vote for PH if the rumours of this pact become more concrete,” he said.

Political messaging has also drawn attention following comments made by Johor Chief Minister Onn Hafiz Ghazi before nomination day.

Onn Hafiz said he did not wish to “sit at the same table” as DAP when forming the next state government.

Former Johor DAP assemblywoman Gan Peck Cheng, who is retiring from politics, criticised the remarks as inappropriate.

“As Johor’s leader, how can you say you do not want to sit with DAP when we will be in the state assembly together?” she asked.

While some social media users interpreted the comments as racially motivated, Onn Hafiz rejected that characterisation.

“We have always been proud of the Bangsa Johor concept, where Malays, Chinese, Indians and Orang Asli come together to move the state forward,” he said before nomination day.

“Johoreans are wise enough to reject parties that try to sow hatred and divide our people.”

Political observers believe the chief minister’s remarks were aimed primarily at reassuring UMNO’s traditional Malay grassroots, many of whom remain uneasy about the party’s federal cooperation with DAP.

Ong said the strategy had largely achieved its objective.

“By and large, I think this strategy has fulfilled Onn Hafiz’s objective, especially after BN was able to turn around the attacks against Onn Hafiz for being ‘racist’ by responding that DAP is not a race but a political party,” he said.

Despite the increasingly heated rhetoric, several Johor voters interviewed during the campaign insisted race and religion would not determine their choices at the ballot box.

Kluang resident Jackson Foo said voters were more interested in candidates’ abilities than their ethnicity.

“We don’t vote just because a candidate is Malay, Chinese or from any particular race,” he said.

“We look at what they can do for us. Johoreans are sophisticated enough to judge candidates on merit rather than ethnicity.”

Nevertheless, candidates acknowledge that the contests are likely to be closely fought.

Lee Wern Yiing expects an especially tight race in Johor Jaya, where PH secured victory in the previous election by only a 4.1 percentage-point margin.

“With the competition so tight this time, we expect the margins to be closer than ever,” she said.

As campaigning enters its final stretch, analysts agree that the Chinese vote has emerged as one of the defining factors in Johor’s state election. While bread-and-butter issues such as inflation, wages and government performance continue to dominate voter concerns, the prominence of racial narratives and identity politics has added another layer of complexity to the contest.

Whether those messages ultimately influence voting behaviour remains uncertain. But in a handful of closely contested constituencies where Chinese voters hold the balance of power, even small shifts in support or turnout could determine which coalition emerges with the advantage when Johoreans head to the polls on Jul 11.

A bomb blast at a crowded cafe in central Damascus has killed at least six people and injured 22 others, Syrian state media say.

The interior ministry said an explosive device was planted inside the cafe, which is located only 100m (330ft) from the Palace of Justice, a major government building in the capital’s Hejaz district.

There was no immediate claim from any group for the attack.

It was the deadliest bombing in Damascus since a suicide attack on a church in June 2025 killed 25 people.

A shadowy jihadist group, Saraya Ansar al-Sunnah, said it was behind that bombing, but authorities blamed the Islamic State (IS) group.

Mohammed al-Dahabi, the owner of a glasses shop located next to the cafe, said Thursday’s bombing was reminiscent of those seen in Damascus during Syria’s civil war.

“I felt strong pressure, and the whole place shook,” he told the AFP news agency. “I ran to the place and saw people lying on the floor with blood pooled around them everywhere.”

Graphic video footage posted on social media showed at least two men lying motionless on the floor of the cafe’s outdoor terrace.

During a visit to the scene, Damascus Governor Maher Marwan Idlibi said those responsible for the bloodshed would be punished.

“Each time the country sees a period of stability, malicious parties try to destabilise it,” he added.

There have been several attacks in Damascus since Islamist-led rebel forces overthrew Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, ending 13 years of devastating civil war.

Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has struggled to consolidate control over the whole country and restore security since he came to power.

There have been several bouts of deadly sectarian fighting between government forces and members of Syria’s Alawite and Druze religious minorities.

Since the outbreak was declared on 15 May, considerable progress has been made on testing capacities, Tarik Jašarević, spokesperson for the World Health Organization (WHO) told reporters in Geneva. 

Testing for the Bundibugyo virus responsible for the outbreak is available in six locations in the country: in Bunia and Mongbwalu in Ituri Province, Bukavu and Lwiro in South Kivu, Goma in North Kivu, in addition to the capital Kinshasa.

Another four laboratories have been activated in Uganda where cases had been imported from DRC, with 19 confirmed cases and one probable case to date.

However, there is still room for improvement.

Breaking the chain

“We have blind spots where we get a low number of alerts,” Mr. Jašarević said. “There may be transmission chains that are not being detected. There are still people who risk infecting other people, and we need to get them”.

Bruno Michon, Operations Manager for the Ebola outbreak at UN partner the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), insisted that to stop the spread, investment is needed not only in the medical response, but also in building trust, which is time-consuming and difficult.

“But in this outbreak, it is not optional. It is lifesaving,” he said.

Speaking from Bunia, the epicentre of the crisis, he said that “some people still question whether the disease is real” and believe that the outbreak may have been “invented” to attract foreign aid. Others “see safe and dignified burials as an attack [on] culture and tradition, rather than a measure to protect families and communities”. 

Scepticism, doubt and fear have hindered the response in conflict-scarred eastern DRC, by the local community’s distrust of outside authorities, which is significantly increasing the risk of disease transmission.

In the early days of the outbreak, two treatment centres were set on fire in the region, which has been beset by intense fighting, causing the displacement of more than 100,000 people.

At the time, WHO told UN News that the attacks were linked to misinformation campaigns circulating on social media.

“When people are afraid, they may not report symptoms,” explained Mr. Michon. “They may avoid treatment centres” for fear of contamination and prefer to stay at home when they have a fever, “ashamed to tell the family that they are sick”, since significant stigma comes with the disease.

“Families try to bury their loved ones according to traditional practices without knowing the level of risk involved,” he added. 

Respectful approach

The IFRC official explained that trust is earned through measures destined to appease the community’s concerns.

“Following community feedback, we started using body bags with a window so that the family can see the face of the deceased” and begin the grieving process, he said. 

“When communities told us they feared that chlorine was used to poison them, we did not argue. We demonstrated how disinfectants are prepared.”

“Without trust, we cannot detect cases early,” Mr. Michon continued. “We cannot ensure safe and dignified burials. We cannot even protect families and we cannot stop the transmission.”

“Trust is not a secondary activity in the Ebola response. Trust is central,” he concluded.

CAR has faced recurrent cycles of conflict since 2013, when predominantly Muslim Seleka rebels seized power, prompting the rise of largely Christian anti-Balaka militias. 

In Batangafo, a town in the northwest once celebrated for its diversity, fear, mistrust, and displacement have now become daily realities. 

Amid this upheaval, Nina found her purpose: helping others rebuild their lives and restore a sense of hope.

From displacement to determination

Speaking to UN News she noted that “the 2013 violence in CAR had a profound and lasting impact on my life, both personally and professionally.” 

“Like many others in my home region of Batangafo and across the conflict-ridden country, my family and I became direct victims of the armed clashes.”

“We were forced to abandon our home, possessions, and stable life to seek refuge in neighbouring Cameroon to the west. These traumatic events galvanised my commitment to peacebuilding and to protecting the most vulnerable populations, particularly women and children.”

Since returning to the country, Nina has founded an NGO called Londo E Lekere (ILEL) (Let us rise up and build), which is supported by the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC). It leads initiatives focusing on peacebuilding, and empowering women’s leadership.

Building bridges in a divided society

In a society fractured by religious and ethnic mistrust, fostering dialogue across generations and beliefs remains one of the greatest challenges. 

“The ethnic and religious tensions, particularly between Muslims and Christians, have been heightened since 2013, creating deep mistrust and making genuine interreligious dialogue difficult,” said Nina, adding that “compounding this are generational and gender disparities, which frequently lead to the marginalisation of young people and women in community decision-making.” 

To address these divisions, ILEL creates inclusive forums for dialogue including radio programmes, awareness campaigns in schools. It also organises conferences and debates and promoting women as peace leaders. 

Youth and gender: Turning barriers into strengths

As a young woman working in a leadership role in what she described as a “patriarchal” context, Nina has faced her share of resistance.

“Elders and traditional leaders sometimes question the authority of a young woman like me to lead initiatives. This manifests as initial resistance during inter-community awareness campaigns.” 

Rather than viewing her youth as a limitation, Nina considers it an advantage. 

“My youth allows me to connect with vulnerable adolescents and young people, who are often excluded from dialogue, and to embody a dynamic female leadership that inspires post-2013 resilience.”

In addition, she has also faced challenges directly linked to her gender. 

“Gender-based violence (GBV) has seen a dramatic increase since 2013, with a notable rise in rates between 2021 and 2022. This surge makes women like me primary targets and subjects us to stigmatisation.”  

Education: A pathway for peace 

Education, for Nina, is not just a professional focus, it’s a personal mission. 

“Education empowers citizens, enabling dialogue that transcends ethnic, religious, and gender divisions, and ensures they understand their rights,” she emphasised. 

Through ILEL, she has launched projects that distribute learning materials, and train teachers. The focus is on engaging parents, teachers, and local leaders to ensure each programme truly reflects community priorities. 

A vision for resilience 

From establishing health centres to supporting local farmers and documenting victims’ stories through a community blog, Nina’s work continues to inspire across the CAR and beyond.

“Peace, equality, and resilience,” she stated, are the values that continue to inspire and sustain her commitment to this cause, recognizing that peace is not built in conference rooms, but is nurtured in classrooms, markets, and villages, “by those who refuse to give up on hope.”

The decision, announced by WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus on Sunday, follows reports of both confirmed and suspected infections linked to the Bundibugyo strain of the virus. 

While the situation is serious, it does not currently meet the criteria for a pandemic emergency under the WHO’s International Health Regulations. 

As of 16 May, health authorities had recorded eight laboratory-confirmed cases, 246 suspected cases and 80 suspected deaths in Ituri Province in eastern DRC.

Cases have also been confirmed in the capital, Kinshasa, and across the border in Uganda, where two infected individuals travelled from DRC and were admitted to intensive care. 

WHO warned that the outbreak is likely larger than currently detected, pointing to clusters of unexplained deaths, a high positivity rate among tested samples and limited understanding of transmission patterns. At least four deaths among healthcare workers have also raised concerns over infection prevention measures in health facilities. 

The agency stressed that the outbreak poses a risk to neighbouring countries due to high population mobility, trade links and ongoing humanitarian challenges in affected regions. 

No international travel restrictions needed

Despite the risks, WHO does not recommend restrictions on international travel or trade. Instead, it urged countries to strengthen surveillance, preparedness and community engagement, while ensuring accurate public information.

Authorities in DRC and Uganda have been advised to activate emergency response mechanisms, enhance contact tracing and laboratory testing, improve infection prevention and scale up treatment capacity.

Community engagement, including working with local and religious leaders, is also considered critical to controlling the outbreak. 

WHO highlighted that no approved vaccines or specific treatments currently exist for the Bundibugyo strain, underscoring the importance of accelerating research and clinical trials. 

An Emergency Committee will be convened to provide further recommendations, as global health authorities step up efforts to contain the outbreak and prevent wider spread. 

UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Ted Chaiban issued the warning following a visit to Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali. 

“After a 14-day visit to the Central Sahel, I have witnessed firsthand a region rich in possibilities, yet continuously affected by insecurity, climate shocks, and socio-economic crises,” he said in a statement on Sunday. 

Mali turmoil exemplifies the crisis 

Recent reports of violence in Mali “are another example of the stark reminder that such crises in the region create a fragile situation for children, including, sadly the loss of their lives,” he added. 

Rebel groups in the West African country carried out a wave of coordinated attacks this past weekend, which the UN Secretary-General has condemned, while UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher tweeted that “responding to humanitarian needs, protecting civilians and ensuring access to basic services is paramount.” 

Hope amid violence 

Across the Central Sahel, more than 3.6 million people have had their lives uprooted due to violence and forced displacement, said Mr. Chaiban, yet government officials, community leaders and displaced persons themselves continue to demonstrate hope. 

“In many rural areas, markets are reopening, communities continue to support each other, and children are playing, whilst families and young people yearn to regain their dignity and economic independence,” he said. 

Mr. Chaiban met political leaders in the three countries who agreed that investing in people and strengthening social cohesion are essential for stability and development. 

‘Everywhere, a clear ambition is emerging: to make the next generation a priority at the heart of national policies. I was encouraged by the strong commitment of the three governments to advance and safeguard the rights of every child,” he said. 

Reforms in Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali 

He noted that in Niger, government-led reforms have modernized civil registration in more than half of all municipalities. As a result, birth registration rates rose to 79 per cent last year, up from 62 per cent in 2023. 

Meanwhile in Burkina Faso, authorities have allocated roughly 25 per cent of the national budget to education and nearly 12 per cent to health, “illustrating a significant effort to scale up essential social services.” 

Furthermore, national immunization coverage in Mali reached 82 per cent in 2024, thus bringing the country closer to ensuring every child receives life‑saving vaccines. 

‘’These policies and commitments are not only good examples. More importantly, they take on their full meaning when we witness the positive transformation of the daily lives of children, allowing them to keep moving forward despite the hardships they face,” he said. 

Young lives at risk 

Yet, he underscored that “the cycle of violence is still dangerously evident, and the situation of children is particularly alarming.” 

He recalled that the UN has documented more than 1,500 grave violations against children, including killing, abduction, and recruitment and use by armed groups, while more than 8,400 schools were rendered inaccessible in 2025 alone.  

Mr. Chaiban explained that lack of access to education and essential services exposes young people to illness and psychosocial distress, while undermining their chances to experience full and healthy development.  

‘’Everyone I met during my visit shared the same concern: providing better protection for children and families, restoring peace, enabling access to healthcare and education, and guaranteeing a safe return home,” he said. 

UNICEF’s support 

The top official was also heartened by UNICEF teams on the ground who are committed to protecting children’s rights throughout the Sahel. They also support governments including in the areas of health, water, education and protection. 

‘‘I have seen that our response is most effective when it reinforces resilience by strengthening local systems, empowering communities, and fostering inclusive governance, whilst always ensuring that children’s voices are heard and taken into account,” he said. 

Mr. Chaiban concluded his statement by urging the international community not to ignore the plight of children across the region. 

“Faced with the resilience of children in the Sahel, the world must not turn a blind eye; there are still millions of children with urgent humanitarian needs that require immediate action,” he said. 

“Their resilience does not mean that they are fine nor must it be used as an excuse for inaction.” 

But one staff member told the BBC that the third and fourth floors had been blocked off for the police investigation, with the displaced people staying on them moved elsewhere. He said the hotel was large and busy, and he and his work friends did not know who had been staying in the specific room that was hit, but had heard the reports.

Briefing the Security Council on Wednesday, Special Representative Valentine Rugwabiza said the 28 December 2025 polls marked “an important milestone in the consolidation of the peace process and State authority.”

The combined presidential, legislative, regional and municipal elections – including the first municipal polls since 1988 – represented “the most extensive electoral operations ever undertaken in the Central African Republic,” she said.

Voting was conducted “in a peaceful and secure manner across most of the country, despite isolated security incidents.”

Incumbent President Faustin-Archange Touadéra secured an outright majority and won a third term in office.

UN support for the elections

The UN peacekeeping mission, MINUSCA, provided technical, logistical, operational and security support, including transporting more than 232 tonnes of voter information and facilitating the deployment of nearly 500 election-related workers nationwide.

The mission also supported the rotation and reinforcement of 1,237 national defence and security forces and provided assistance packages to more than 800 soldiers in hotspot areas.

The elections also reflected progress on inclusion, with women representing more than 47 per cent of voters and 45 per cent of municipal candidates.

Implementing the peace accord

CAR has faced recurrent cycles of conflict since 2013, when predominantly Muslim Seleka rebels seized power, prompting the rise of largely Christian anti-Balaka militias.

The 2019 Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation between the Government and 14 armed groups – brokered with international support – remains the central framework for stabilisation efforts.

Ms. Rugwabiza reported continued progress under that agreement, including the dissolution of two additional armed groups and the signing of a third agreement for the return of the Movement of Central African Patriots to the process, facilitated by Chad.

Since July 2025, more than 1,200 combatants have been disarmed and demobilised.

Security improved, but challenges remain

However, she cautioned that “the continuation of a well-planned and coordinated disarmament and demobilisation process remains essential to sustain security and peace gains.”

Security conditions have improved in western and central regions, but challenges remain acute in the northeast and southeast.

In the southeast, militia attacks targeting civilians and local authorities continue, after 21 voting centres out of 6,700 nationwide were prevented from opening there on election day.

The spillover of conflict from neighbouring Sudan has driven thousands of refugees into northeastern prefectures, straining limited services and exacerbating intercommunal tensions – while further constraining humanitarian access.

Cuts to peacekeeping

MINUSCA has consolidated its force presence in affected areas to enhance civilian protection. At the same time, the mission’s operations have been impacted by a lack of money.

As of 2 February, $733 million of the mission’s $1.17 billion annual budget from July 2025-June 2026 remains unpaid (approximately 63 per cent).

Established in 2014, MINUSCA is mandated to protect civilians, support the peace process and help extend State authority.

As the country enters a post-election phase, the mission is seeking to gradually transfer responsibilities to national institutions – a process dependent on continued stability, institutional capacity and reliable financial resources.

Building peace

Omar Hilale, Morocco’s Ambassador to the UN and Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission’s support group working to bolster peace in CAR, said the country was entering “a decisive phase in terms of consolidation, confidence and national cohesion.”

The UN Peacebuilding Commission is an intergovernmental advisory body supporting peace efforts in conflict-impacted nations worldwide.

“We must ensure that political attention to security sector reform remains unwavering,” said Mr. Hilale, while also underscoring the importance of MINUSCA. Any discussions on its future must be anchored in the “realities on the ground,” he said.

“The Central African Republic is entering a new phase, turning resolutely towards the future with renewed determination and commitment. It is, therefore, incumbent upon us to seize this pivotal moment, and consolidate and safeguard the progress made so far,” he said.

“While cases have reduced, the conditions that led to the resurgence of this deadly disease in recent years remain and must be addressed,” said Regina De Dominicis, the UN Children Fund (UNICEF) regional director for Europe and Central Asia.

Fifty-three countries in Europe and Central Asia reported 33,998 measles cases in 2025, down from 127,412 in 2024.

The overall decreasing trend in cases reflects both outbreak response measures and the gradual decline in the number of people susceptible to measles infection as the virus made its way through under-vaccinated communities, according to UN agencies.

Tackling deadly misinformation

However, many cases could have been prevented with higher routine vaccination coverage at community level and more timely response to outbreaks, UN agencies said.

“Until all children are reached with vaccination, and hesitancy fuelled by the spread of misinformation is addressed, children will remain at risk of death or serious illness from measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases,” she warned.

Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe, said eliminating measles is essential for national and regional health security, stressing that “in today’s environment of rampant fake news, it’s also crucial that people rely on verified health information from reliable sources such as WHO, UNICEF and national health agencies.”

Measles still present

The number of cases in 2025 still exceeded what has been reported for most years since 2000, and some countries reported more cases in 2025 than in 2024. Measles cases continue to be detected in 2026 in the region, according to WHO.

“Over 200,000 people in our region fell ill with measles in the past three years,” Dr. Kluge said.

“Unless every community reaches 95 per cent vaccination coverage, closes immunity gaps across all ages, strengthens disease surveillance and ensures timely outbreak response, this highly contagious virus will keep spreading.”

Highly contagious

Measles is one of the most contagious viruses affecting people. For every one person who has measles, up to 18 other unvaccinated people will be infected.

This makes measles around 12 times more contagious than influenza. As well as hospitalisation and death, the virus can cause long-term, debilitating health complications.

It can also damage the immune system by “erasing” its memory of how to fight infections for months to even years, leaving measles survivors vulnerable to other diseases and death.

Two doses of measles-containing vaccine provide up to 97 per cent life-long protection against measles. 

A vaccination rate of 95 per cent with two doses of the measles vaccine in every community each year is needed to prevent measles outbreaks and achieve herd immunity, which protects infants too young for measles vaccination and other people for whom it is not recommended due to medical conditions, like those who are immunocompromised.

Public health priorities

Outbreak preparedness and response alongside the target of measles elimination, remain public health priorities.

UNICEF and WHO work together with governments and with the support of partners, including Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the European Union, to prevent and respond to measles outbreaks by, among other things:

• engaging with communities
• training health care workers
• strengthening immunisation programmes and disease surveillance systems
• initiating measles vaccination catch-up campaigns