The United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA) was established on 1 January 2011. Based in Libreville (Gabon), it was officially inaugurated on 2 March 2011.

In a letter to the Security Council on 11 December 2009 (S/2009/697), the Secretary-General gives details on the mandate of the Office, stressing its crucial importance in strengthening the role of the United Nations in the promotion of peace and security in Central Africa.

Thereafter, in a statement issued during its 8328th meeting on 10 August 2018 (S/PRST/2018/17), the Security Council highlights the main priorities of UNOCA, including, inter alia, the following missions:

• Perform good offices on behalf of the UN Secretary-General;
• Assist the countries of the sub-region in consolidating peace and resolving tensions from the various elections that took place in the period from 2015–2018, and to assist countries facing institutional crises related to electoral processes;
• Work with the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and its member states to lay the groundwork for the structural prevention of election-related violence;
• Enhance the capacities of the ECCAS Secretariat in conflict prevention; early warning; women, peace and security; mediation and other areas, including through continuing to conduct joint assessments and visits with ECCAS;
• Work closely with the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) to address transregional issues such as maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea, conflict between farmers and herders, and combatting Boko Haram.

Moreover, the Security Council encourages further cooperation with other UN entities in the region. Objective: ensure a coherent and streamlined approach to their respective activities, with a view to strengthening regional and sub-regional organisations to address cross-border threats. In addition, the Council invites UNOCA to “take fully into account gender considerations as a cross-cutting issue in its activities and to continue to support ECCAS in its adoption and implementation of the Regional Action Plan for implementation of resolution 1325 (2000)” on Women, Peace and Security.