2024-01-11 20:01:53
Addressing ambassadors to the Security Council, Leonardo Santos Simão, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, stressed that while some countries have recorded significant progress in consolidation of democracy, others have suffered military takeovers, posing broader threats to regional stability.
Liberia’s presidential election and peaceful transfer of power was a watershed political moment for a country where memories of the civil war are still very present, he said.
He also mentioned the upcoming elections in Senegal, where enthusiasm for the choice of the country’s next leader, during the presidential election on February 25, “is palpable”, and in Ghana, which has “demonstrated its democratic constancy with the commitment of the two main parties to a transparent process, and the election of their candidates to the highest office of the State, in preparation for the general elections scheduled for December this year”.
However, post-election events in Sierra Leone and Guinea-Bissau have given rise to infighting within the security services and highlighted the need to sustainably strengthen the credibility of democratic governance institutions and processes. , he added.
Commitment to Mali
Mr. Simão warned of “superimposed conflicts” in Mali, where the UN peacekeeping mission, MINUSMA, completed its withdrawal on December 31, 2023, marking the culmination of an effort to ten years supporting this West African nation.
As MINUSMA’s mandate has ended, there is uncertainty over elections and the political transition in Mali under the Peace and Reconciliation Agreement, he said.
“Insecurity remains widespread in large parts of the country, including attacks on military camps and civilians, with swathes of the country currently blocked by terrorist groups and growing humanitarian needs,” the envoy explained. the UN.
Deployed in 2013 following a violent insurgency by separatist rebels and a subsequent military coup, MINUSMA has played a crucial role in responding to Mali’s multifaceted challenges. Despite more than 300 deaths among its soldiers and personnel, the mission has helped alleviate extremist violence and widespread insecurity.
“As we enter a post-MINUSMA Mali, we must take stock of this decade-long experience and draw the lessons needed to inform a fast-approaching future. As a legacy of MINUSMA, the UN will continue to play a key role in favor of the Malian people,” said Mr. Simão. “We remain committed to keeping our promises.”
Leonardo Santos Simão, Special Representative and head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), during a meeting of the Security Council (file photo).
Climate change and insecurity
The Special Representative, who also heads the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), stressed that the negative impact of climate change in the Sahel region cannot be overestimated, the fragile ecosystems bearing the brunt of prolonged droughts and unpredictable rainy seasons.
Mr. Simão noted that extreme weather events combine with the spread of insecurity in the region, exacerbating intercommunal conflicts, increasing social tensions and worsening displacement.
“As wells dry up and land becomes shallow – just as floods have devastated other areas – it is often women who bear the brunt of climate hazards and conflict,” he said. he declares. “It is imperative that women take their place in decision-making bodies.”
Build the dialogue
In conclusion, Mr. Simão stressed that his Office is actively committed to contributing to building stability, peace and democratic governance in the region, bringing together key stakeholders and helping them collectively overcome adversity.
In this multifaceted landscape, UNOWAS remains committed to fostering dialogue and defending democratic principles, despite the challenges looming on the regional horizon, he said.
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