2024-01-16 15:35:31
Overcoming the challenge of terrorism must be the priority for countries in the Sahel region if we want to improve the humanitarian situation there and respond to the suffering of affected populations, believes the UN envoy to the region. In an interview given to ONU Info while in New York to take stock of the situation in the region before the Security Council, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, Leonardo Santos Simão , believes that the UN can help countries fight terrorism.
While the United Nations Mission in Mali, MINUSMA, completed its mandate on December 31, 2023, at the request of the Malian transitional authorities, Leonardo Santos Simão returns to the UN’s relations with Mali, but also to the dialogue and cooperation with Burkina Faso, Niger and Guinea.
The United Nations Mission in Mali, MINUSMA, recently completed its mandate. What is the role now of the United Nations Office for West Africa in the Sahel (UNOWAS) in promoting peace and security in Mali?
It is true that the MINUSMA mission is over, but not the United Nations mission to support the country. Mali is a member of the United Nations which is going through a very difficult situation. For this reason, it enjoys the unwavering support of the United Nations. There is humanitarian support but there are also political questions that must be faced. We are still in discussions with the Malian government because we must respect the choices of the Malian government. As a member of the United Nations, Mali has political obligations. There are also questions of human rights, the question of women, of youth. There are quite a few resolutions approved by the United Nations which are applicable to Mali. So we are in the process of discussing with the government how to help the country implement all these resolutions. So you might say it’s a work in progress.
Your role is changing with the departure of MINUSMA, are you planning to go to Mali?
We are not MINISMA number 2. We have our mandate. It is within the framework of this mandate that we will continue to work with Mali in the same way as we work with other countries. So it is not a reissue of MINUSMA with another name. There are sometimes misunderstandings regarding this. Our role is to support Member States in overcoming difficulties, economic, social and other difficulties. It is in this framework, in this spirit, that we will continue to work with Mali.
In the region, there are other countries experiencing political transitions, Burkina Faso, Niger, Guinea. Where are the UN dialogue and cooperation with these countries?
UNOWAS has always maintained a dialogue, contact with these countries. The problem was a lack of dialogue or interruption of dialogue between each of these countries and ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States). The ECOWAS summit last December took the decision to resume dialogue with each of these countries. So this will help improve the political atmosphere, not only in the countries, but also between these countries and ECOWAS. There is one result that we can celebrate today, and that is the release of the son of President Bazoum (of Niger) and his wife. This is a practical, palpable result of this resumption of dialogue between ECOWAS and in this case with Niger.
More particularly the role of the UN in this dialogue?
Our role, when tensions were at a very high level, consisted of encouraging everyone to talk to each other in the context that only dialogue will lead the parties concerned to find a shared path to resolving the problems. There is a disagreement that has already been established between ECOWAS and each of these countries, especially the timetable for the transition. Two countries have postponed this implementation for technical and other reasons, but the resumption of dialogue will find practical solutions with a view to the resumption of constitutional order.
More generally, the security and humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate in the Sahel region. What measures do you think should be taken to reverse this trend?
We have appealed to the Security Council, and in our discussions with other entities, on the need to increase humanitarian support in the region. There is a growing need for humanitarian support on one side. But we also see that there is a reduction in humanitarian contributions. We must therefore change this situation, particularly with regard to women and children. But the solution to humanitarian issues is the fight once morest terrorism. It is for this reason that we shared with the Council that, in our opinion, the main priority for the region is the fight once morest terrorism and because terrorism is the main cause of all this suffering. of the populations of the region.
In this area, what can the UN contribute?
We can continue to mobilize Member States to make their contribution towards increasing humanitarian support in countries. Member States and other international organizations must help countries overcome this major challenge.
Regarding the situation in Guinea-Bissau, what are the immediate measures to resolve the current crisis and what messages is the UN sending to political actors in Guinea-Bissau?
In Guinea-Bissau, there was a Parliament elected last year which was dissolved by the President. So we must find the means, the forms to reestablish constitutional legality in the country. Guinea-Bissau is a member of the United Nations, is a member of ECOWAS, is a member of the African Union. And in all these countries, there is an agreement on the political organization of the States. So we must resume this constitutional legality in Guinea-Bissau.
Source: ONU Info
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