76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
UN Security Council meeting on G5 Sahel
Delivered by Ambassador Sven Jürgenson
November 12, New York
I thank the briefers for their overviews on the latest developments in the Sahel region and on the operationalisation of the G5 Sahel Joint Force.
Estonia continues to be extremely concerned about the volatile and deteriorating security situation in the Sahel region despite the ongoing efforts by the G5 Sahel Joint Force and by the international security forces. The most affected by this instability are the civilians. Estonia condemns in strongest terms all attacks against the civilians, including most recently in Niger’s Tillabéri region that left 69 people dead.
Restoring an effective and credible state presence across the territories of the region’s states is one of the key elements in ensuring the protection of civilians. It is important to continue the efforts of re-establishing not only the security presence, but also the police and judicial institutions.
Fight against terrorism and violent extremism in the Sahel can only succeed if it is a true joint effort by the national, regional and international security forces. Estonia commends the work of the African Union and ECOWAS in supporting the G5 Sahel Joint Force. We are encouraged by the efforts of G5 Sahel Joint Force to enhance its internal coordination and we call on further concrete steps to clarify the command lines and to share relevant information in a more effective manner.
The question of how to organise an effective international support to the G5 Sahel Joint Force remains at the center of our discussions. It is positive that the European Union’s financial support has allowed MINUSMA to offer operational and logistical support to the Joint Force. Moreover, Estonia fully acknowledges the calls from the region’s states to ensure a more predictable and sustainable funding to the G5 Sahel Joint Force. We have taken note of the support options presented in the Secretary-General’s 8th October letter, including the proposed dedicated UN support office for the G5 Sahel Joint Force. We believe the time is ripe for the Security Council to begin considerations on how to best mandate this support model.
An integral part of all counter-terrorist efforts is compliance with human rights and international humanitarian law principles. Estonia remains concerned about the continued reports of human rights violations that have allegedly been committed by the security forces during the counter-terrorist activities. While we welcome the timely announcements to conduct investigations by the Joint Force and the region’s states, we strongly encourage all announced investigations to be conducted thoroughly and fully. It is essential to investigate all human rights violations and abuses and hold the perpetrators fully accountable regardless of their status.
The Sahel region is facing a number of challenges and while the military efforts are often in the forefront, it is crucial to address the underlying issues that are often exacerbating the existing grievances. We need to keep taking into account the negative effects of climate change in the Sahel. Constant focus needs to be on the empowerment of women to ensure their full, equal and meaningful participation in all aspects of the society. In this connection, we are grateful for the testimony provided by Ms. Fatimata Sinare earlier in the meeting.
Finally, Mr. President, I would like to reiterate Estonia’s commitment to achieving security and stability in the Sahel region. We will continue our contributions with personnel to MINUSMA, the French-led Barkhane operation, the Task Force Takuba and to EUTM Mali, and financially to the EU Trust Fund for Africa.