The Particular Consultant of the Secretary-Common and Head of the United Nations Workplace for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Leonardo Santos Simão, yesterday offered to the United Nations Safety Council the most recent report of the Secretary-Common on the actions of UNOWAS. The report covers the interval from 30 June 30 to 31 December 2023.
Addressing the members of the Safety Council, Mr. Simão evoked the persistence of socio-political tensions, the rising insecurity within the Sahel with a worsening of the humanitarian state of affairs and the deficit of schooling programs, in addition to the adverse impression of local weather change on peace and safety within the sub-region. “Regardless of the numerous progress that has been made in consolidating democracy, the safety state of affairs and governance challenges stay main considerations,” he stated.
Mr. Simão praised the profitable conduct of the presidential election in Liberia, which “demonstrated the capability of establishments to prepare credible polls and to ascertain governments with constitutional legitimacy.” However, the present political tensions in Sierra Leone and Guinea-Bissau, following electoral processes, “reminded of the necessity to construct the credibility of establishments and processes of democratic governance, in a sustained method, failing which, underlying fragilities are at all times more likely to resurface come what may,” he stated.
In his assertion, the Particular Consultant additionally expressed concern concerning the shrinking civic and political house in some international locations of the subregion. “Regrettably, arrests of journalists and human rights defenders, in addition to restrictions to web entry and freedom of the press, amongst different considerations, once more fueled perceptions of a decline of the civic and political house in some international locations,” he stated, whereas stressing the significance of respecting elementary freedoms, “together with freedom of meeting and expression, to construct belief between residents and establishments.”
Additionally on the political entrance, and in view of the continued transitions, Mr. Simão reiterated UNOWAS’ dedication “to proceed advocating for dialogue to speed up a return to constitutional order reflecting residents’ aspirations and guarantee transparency, inclusivity and respect for human rights within the administration of the transition processes.”
The Particular Consultant referred to the worrying safety and humanitarian state of affairs, significantly in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. “Regardless of marginal enhancements in some areas, the variety of individuals in the complete central Sahel area requiring humanitarian help and safety has elevated by eight per cent in comparison with 2022, now reaching 34.5 million individuals,” he stated.
Whereas acknowledging a stabilization, albeit precarious, within the Lake Chad Basin area because of the coordinated operations of the Multinational Joint Process Power, Mr. Simão warned of a potential “reconfiguration of regional safety coordination mechanisms”, following the closure of MINUSMA, the departure of overseas forces from the Sahel and the uncertainty over the G5-Sahel. He additionally expressed his satisfaction with the measures taken by the Financial Neighborhood of West African States (ECOWAS) “to make totally operational its Precedence Motion Plan 2020-2024 to eradicate terrorism within the area.”
Talking concerning the impression of local weather change on peace and safety in West Africa and the Sahel, it’s “a actuality that we can’t ignore,” he stated, Mr. Simão briefed Safety Council members on the outcomes of local weather danger assessments undertaken by UNOWAS which point out that “local weather change reinforces safety dangers by exacerbating inter-communal conflicts and social tensions.”
Mr. Simão referred to as for a better participation of girls. “It’s crucial that ladies take their place in decision-making our bodies,” he careworn, whereas welcoming better illustration of girls in legislative our bodies in Benin, Côte d’Ivoire and Sierra Leone.
The Particular Consultant reiterated UNOWAS’ dedication to working with regional and worldwide companions to consolidate much-needed peace, safety and democracy in West Africa and the Sahel. “Towards the a number of challenges, UNOWAS will keep the course and deploy its capacities, utilizing good workplaces, urging for humanitarian entry, and selling the observance of human rights and the rule of regulation,” he pledged.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Workplace for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS).
