The Particular Consultant of the Secretary-Basic for West Africa and the Sahel, Leonardo Santos Simão, offered this Thursday to the United Nations Safety Council the most recent report of the Secretary-Basic on the actions of the United Nations Workplace for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), protecting the interval from 1 April to 31 July 2025.
In his speech, Mr. Simão expressed his concern concerning the deteriorating safety state of affairs within the sub-region. Specifically, he highlighted an upsurge in large-scale and more and more subtle terrorist assaults in Mali, Benin, Togo and Nigeria, together with using drones, encrypted communications and collusion with transnational prison networks. “Because the spillover to coastal states has been taking place, now the priority is its unfold,” he warned. He additionally warned in opposition to the recruitment of younger individuals by extremist teams, and the affect of this dynamic on social cohesion.
The humanitarian state of affairs is vital. In accordance with OCHA knowledge, 12.8 million individuals are liable to acute meals insecurity, and a couple of.6 million kids are liable to extreme malnutrition. Nevertheless, solely 14% of the 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan for the Sahel is at present funded. “Useful resource mobilization is urgently wanted to save lots of the lives of thousands and thousands of individuals in danger,” Simão warned. He added that latest floods in a number of international locations illustrate the area’s rising vulnerability to local weather shocks.
“Within the face of the terrorist menace, the member states of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) have arrange a joint defence drive and customary constructions,” Simão advised the members of the Safety Council, including that consultations between ECOWAS and the AES have been initiated to strengthen cooperation. “I confused the significance of dialogue, belief and cooperation, persistently providing my good places of work,” Simão mentioned, praising President Julius Maada Bio’s efforts to strengthen regional safety.
He additionally welcomed the creation of a joint fusion and menace evaluation cell between ECOWAS and the African Union.
Regardless of the challenges, Mr. Simão highlighted democratic advances in a number of international locations. “Now we have purpose to have fun the democratic dividends within the area,” he mentioned, citing institutional reforms in Senegal, the Nationwide Unity Settlement in Sierra Leone, and the efforts of the Nationwide Peace Council in Ghana. He expressed his assist for the upcoming elections in Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania, whereas calling for a constructive dialogue in Togo.
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The Particular Consultant expressed concern concerning the shrinking civic area and human rights violations. “Strengthening nationwide and regional mechanisms to fight impunity is crucial,” he confused, welcoming the creation of a Felony Court docket of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in Bamako.
Addressing the Ladies, Peace and Safety and Youth, Peace and Safety agendas, Mr. Simão famous that every one international locations within the area now have Nationwide Motion Plans on Safety Council Decision 1325. “However Ladies stay under-represented in peace processes, political events, and safety establishments,” he mentioned. He known as for elevated assist to operationalize the Ladies Mediators Fast Response Group and strengthen the inclusion of youth in peace processes.
The Particular Consultant confused the significance of water as peace and improvement accelerators, whereas reiterating his name to “by the finalization and implementation of the Sahel Regional Motion Plan on Water”.
Mr. Simão additionally highlighted the significance of flagship initiatives initiated below the United Nations Built-in Technique for the Sahel (UNISS), in cooperation with the governments of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, to handle the basis causes of instability and battle.
The Consultant concluded his remarks by highlighting the progress of the Cameroon-Nigeria Joint Fee. “As we transfer in the direction of an exit technique, the Fee is an instance of the function of worldwide mechanisms in supporting peacebuilding and regional cooperation,” he mentioned.
