Statement [Made on Behalf of the Security Council, at the 8752nd Meeting, 28 July 2020, in Connection with the Council's Consideration of the Item Entitled "Peace Consolidation in West Africa"]

S/PRST/2020/7View PDF

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

A Presidential Statement of the Security Council, under agenda item 100 Peace consolidation in West Africa, published in 2020.

What subjects does this mandate have?

9 subjects

Counter-Terrorism Good Offices Human Rights in Armed Conflicts Humanitarian Assistance Lake Chad Basin Regional Security Sudano-Sahelian Region Terrorism West Africa

What’s in this document?

21 paragraphs

At the 8752nd meeting of the Security Council, held on 28 July 2020, in connection with the Council’s consideration of the item entitled “Peace consolidation in West Africa”, the President of the Security Council made the following statement on behalf of the Council:

“The Security Council welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) and the briefing held on 09 July 2020 by the Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, Mr Mohamed Ibn Chambas and Ms. Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Coordinator of the Association for Indigenous Women and Peoples of Chad (AFPAT).

“The Security Council recalls its resolutions 2480 (2019), 2423 (2018), 2391 (2017), 2359 (2017), 2349 (2017) and 2320 (2016), as well as its previous presidential statements on this agenda item.

“The Security Council expresses full support to the Special Representative, in carrying out his mandate, and ongoing activities undertaken by UNOWAS.

“The Security Council reiterates its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of all countries in West Africa and the Sahel.

“The Security Council emphasises that security and stability in Mali are inextricably linked to that of the Sahel and West Africa, as well as to that of Libya and North Africa.

“The Security Council recognises that responsible and credible mediation by UNOWAS requires, inter alia, national ownership, the consent of the parties to a particular dispute or conflict, respect for national sovereignty, as set out in A/RES/70/304.

“The Security Council expresses its deep concern about the continued deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation in the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin as well as over the challenging security situation in West-Africa, fuelled, among others, by terrorism, transnational organised crime committed at sea, conflicts between pastoralists and farmers, and transnational organised crime, including trafficking in persons, arms and drugs and illegal exploitation of natural resources, and calls for a continued national, regional and international engagement to help these countries to address the peace and security challenges they face and it further welcomes in this regard the efforts of the Secretary General to adapt UN support on the ground in Burkina Faso and Niger, and requests to receive updates on these integrated cross-pillar processes through the regular reporting on UNOWAS.

“The Security Council expresses concern over the overall humanitarian situation in the region, notably characterised by the impact of forced displacement, extreme poverty, social inequalities and violence, including sexual and gender-based violence, and calls for safe, sustained and unhindered access for the delivery of humanitarian and medical aid to persons in need, including access to holistic care for survivors of sexual violence in conflict and post-conflict situations, and perpetrators to be held to account, and further calls for significant humanitarian and development action as well as the disbursement of previously pledged funds.

“The Security Council, while reiterating its support for the Secretary-General’s appeal for a global ceasefire as also expressed in resolution 2532 (2020) which demands a general and immediate cessation of hostilities in all situations on the Council’s agenda, underlining the importance of international cooperation and solidarity, welcomes efforts and contributions of the UNOWAS, African Union, ECOWAS and other member states in providing support and enhancing cooperation in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and acknowledges the launch of the Global Humanitarian Response Plan for COVID-19 by the United Nations, which puts the people at the center of the response. The Security Council expresses concern about the potential of the global COVID-19 pandemic to further exacerbate existing fragilities in the region, undermine development, worsen the humanitarian situation and affect disproportionately women and girls, children, refugees, internally displaced persons, older persons and persons with disabilities and, in that regard, calls for international support to the efforts of the countries of region and a coordinated, inclusive, comprehensive and global response.

“The Security Council welcomes the leadership demonstrated by countries in West Africa and the Sahel in spearheading initiatives to address security challenges in the region, and in that regards, commends their recent anti-terrorist operations in the Liptako-Gourma and Lake Chad basin regions, including through the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) and the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel (FC-G5S) ). The Security Council welcomes the increased engagement of the African Union and ECOWAS and the initiative to deploy an African Union-led force in the Sahel and it further welcomes the Pau Summit of 13 January 2020, the creation of a “Coalition for the Sahel” and the G5 Sahel Summit held in Nouakchott on 30 June 2020. The Security Council reaffirms the need for all States to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and other obligations under international law, including international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts. The Security Council underlines the need for security efforts to be aligned with political objectives, to enable the restoration of civilian security, the establishment of effective governance to deliver essential services, and the revival of local economics to provide livelihood opportunities for surging youth populations.

“The Security Council reiterates that stabilisation of the situation and protection of civilians in this region requires a fully integrated response, led by the governments of those countries, with the support of UNOWAS, regional organisations and the international community, and encompassing simultaneous pursuit of progress on security, governance, humanitarian assistance, development, reconciliation, and human rights.

“The Security Council underscores the importance of addressing the underlying conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism and the need for a holistic approach to address root causes of intercommunal violence, prevent further tensions and violence, maintain security efforts, effectively hold accountable and bring to justice individuals responsible for human rights violations and abuses, tackle exclusion and poverty, promote sustainable development, strengthen resilience of institutions and communities, promote good governance and build peaceful, just and inclusive societies and emphasises in this regard the important role of women in prevention and resolution of conflicts, in peacebuilding as well as in post-conflict situations.

“The Security Council expresses its deep concern regarding the latest tensions in Mali and urges the Malian stakeholders to prioritise the use of dialogue to resolve these, without delay, take into account the recommendations made by ECOWAS on 19th July, to refrain from any action likely to fuel further tensions, and to work inclusively and constructively to preserve the rule of law.

“The Security Council emphasises the need for national stakeholders in Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea and Niger to work together to facilitate the timely preparation for, and holding of genuinely free and fair, credible, timely and peaceful elections, and to take all appropriate steps to prevent violence, and urges them to ensure a level playing field for all candidates and to work towards full, effective, and meaningful participation of women.

“The Security Council, calls once again on all political stakeholders in Guinea, regardless of their political affiliation, to resume dialogue without delay with the view to ensuring that electoral processes as well as political reforms are conducted with broad consensus and encourages the Special Representative to continue carrying out good offices in this regard.

“The Security Council also encourages UNOWAS to continue its preparations for the assumption of some of the UNIOGBIS functions, as the end of UNIOGBIS’s mandate approaches.

“The Security Council commends the efforts of the countries of the region to advance the full, effective and meaningful participation of women in political processes including with a view to increasing the number of women appointed to senior government positions, in accordance with their respective constitutions and national, regional and global commitments and resolution 1325 (2000) and its subsequent resolutions on women, peace and security and welcomes in that regard the law on women participation adopted in Burkina Faso and their recent increased representation in the National Assembly of Mali.

“The Security Council recognises the adverse effects of climate change, energy poverty, ecological changes and natural disasters, including through drought, desertification, land degradation and food insecurity among other factors on the stability of West Africa and the Sahel region and continues to stress the need for long-term strategies, based on risk assessments, by governments and the United Nations, to support stabilisation and build resilience and encourages UNOWAS to continue to integrate this information in its activities.

“The Security Council encourages cross-pillar efforts to foster greater coherence and coordination within the UN System as well as with partners in the region through the efficient implementation of UNISS and the United Nations Support Plan for the Sahel, and, in this regard, calls on UNOWAS, working with all elements of the UN system in headquarters, in West Africa and the Sahel, in particular the Regional UN Sustainable Development Group, to strengthen integrated responses to the challenges facing the region in order to ensure better coordination and efficiency of the international response to the needs of the people and communities of the Sahel region.

“The Security Council requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide information on UN efforts with respect to aspects highlighted in this statement, the UNOWAS mandate and the situation in West Africa and the Sahel and reiterates its call for an assessment of the implementation of its resolution 2349 to be integrated into regular reporting by UNOWAS.”

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