The security situation in the Sahel remains very worrying, the Security Council warned
“Non-State Armed Forces continued to launch large-scale attacks against civilian and military targets and engaged in conflict over access to resources, territorial control and influence,” said Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, part of the political and peace affairs department, and UN Peacekeeping Operations.
The commission met to assess the status of the G5 Sahel Joint Task Force, which brings together Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger. Founded in 2017, it is the main role as an international military operation to combat the rising threat of terrorism, improving criminal justice, managing border security and the spread of militant religious extremism.
Extremists clash
“Terrorism and violent extremist groups often target the border areas, especially the tri-border area of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, Liptako-Gourma. In this case, at the beginning of this year there was an increase in the conflict between the Islamic State in the Sahara Greater Sahara. (ISGS) and Jama’at Nu rat al-Islam wal-Muslirnin (JNIM),” he added.
In this context, “the recent instability in the eastern Sahel, Sudan, is an additional source of concern,” Ms. Pobee said, adding that “the devastating effects have continued The destabilization of the Sahel will be felt far beyond the region and African countries.”
The humanitarian situation is dire
He recalled that the security crisis is worsening the already dire humanitarian situation. In Burkina Faso, an estimated 4.7 million people will need humanitarian assistance this year, up from 3.5 million in 2022. And in Mali, 8.8 million people will need help, up from 7.5 million.
Regarding the G5 Force, the senior UN official noted that the staff had done it progress progress in its operation, in the context of the reorganization of the European and French forces, and the withdrawal of Mali from the Force, and the increasing threats in the tri-border region.
He emphasized that the G5 Sahel countries have decided to strengthen cooperation within the region, including by establishing two and more cooperation methods with the Malian Army in the fight against terrorism.
Insecurity continues
However, he noted that, despite these efforts, insecurity in the tri-border region continues to grow.
Ms. Pobee emphasized that the tripartite agreement between the European Union, the G5 Sahel and the UN is expected to be completed in May. With the conclusion of this agreement, the material and operational support from the UN Mission in Mali, MINUSMA, to the G5 Sahel Coalition, will end.
He said that it “gives an opportunity to think about how the international community should be renew its approach to support regional security policies”.
Ms. Pobee added that through the UN office of human rights, OHCHR, the UN has continued to support the Joint Task Force in the implementation of the international human rights framework and human rights compliance framework, noting that “important institutional, legal and behavioral improvements and changes that have been made.”
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“Going forward, continue human rights work with local and national security actors in the Sahel will be important in an area where the security situation is deteriorating,” he emphasized.
In this context, Ms. Pobee emphasized that the political and operational support of partners is essential for the stabilization of Mali and the entire Sahel region.
Renewed international support will prevent the Sahelian crisis from upsetting the region’s fragile political balance and will help prevent “a new spillover of insecurity in coastal countries”.
“For its part, the United Nations is ready to further support the efforts of the G5 Sahel, including through support for capacity building in areas such as prevention of violent extremism and radicalization, rule of law and border security management” he said.
He recalled that the UN is committed to working with all partners to ensure that the governance systems are democratic and open, and that the people of the Sahel have great confidence in their institutions.
“Resolute progress in the fight against terrorism, violent extremism and organized crime in the Sahel must be done wisely. Without significant benefits, it will be very difficult to change the course of security in the Sahel and the expansion of security to coastal countries in West Africa,” he concluded.
