Photo by UN Photo
UNGA 74
Statement at the UN Security Council Briefing on UNOWAS,
Delivered by Deputy Permanent Representative Gert Auväärt,
January 8, New York
Thank you Mr. President,
Allow me to express Estonia’s support to Special Representative Chambas and the activities of UNOWAS over the last reporting period. The work on mediation and good offices in West Africa and the Sahel play an important role in supporting the overall UN efforts in the region.
The Secretary-General’s report draws attention to the worrisome trends in the security situation in the wider West Africa and the Sahel region. Estonia remains concerned about the negative developments in the region, such as the spread of violent extremism and organised crime. The latest terrorist attack that took place just this past Saturday in Burkina Faso on a bus carrying students and left 14 people dead must be condemned in strongest terms. Each one of such terrorist attacks is simply unacceptable.
Considering the transnational nature of these threats, cross-regional collaboration is of key importance. We highly commend the cooperation efforts between ECOWAS and ECCAS and encourage the exchange of good practices between UNOWAS and UNOCA. We hope to see this collaboration strengthened and coordination enhanced.
We note positively that the G5 Sahel Joint Force together with the French-led Barkhane operation, to which Estonia also contributes, have been conducting successful counterterrorist operations. However, considering the growing number of violent attacks, including on civilians, we need to further stress the role of the region’s States. Full political ownership and effective State presence including adequately trained military presence is of key importance here. All perpetrators of violence need to be held accountable.
Addressing root causes and long-term drivers of conflict and violence are at the core of UNOWAS’s peacebuilding activities and preventative diplomacy. We commend UNOWAS’s engagement in promoting meaningful participation of women and youth in the political process, but clearly more efforts from all relevant parties are needed. In this regard, we would like to stress the need for an integrated gender perspective in the design and implementation of comprehensive strategies to address the root causes of the crisis.
Finally, Mr. President, the effects of climate change to people’s livelihoods throughout West Africa and the Sahel, but especially severely in the Lake Chad Basin, need to be taken into account. It is important to track the roots and impacts of climate related tensions and support key stakeholders in finding alternatives to those most affected.
I thank you!