UNSC briefing on United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS)

[10 January 2022; 1000 hrs]

Statement by Ambassador T.S. Tirumurti

Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations

-----

Thank you, Madam President. At the outset, I thank SRSG Annadif for briefing us on the latest developments in the West Africa region. I also thank Ms. Ghada Fathi Waly, Executive Director, UNODC and Ms. Yougbare of Médecins du Monde for their insights.

2. The countries in the region have remained steadfast in pursuing democratic traditions, despite a few aberrations. This positive trend is evident in the successful and peaceful elections in Cabo Verde and The Gambia held in October and December respectively. We congratulate the people of The Gambia and Cabo Verde for reposing faith in the democratic values. India also extends felicitations to the elected leaders. We need to recognize and unequivocally support countries pursuing the democratic path.

3. However, democracy has witnessed a setback in Guinea with coup d’état in September. Despite the efforts made by ECOWAS, there has been no progress towards restoring of democratic order. In Mali, the implementation of 18-month transition that was agreed initially by the Malian authorities remains uncertain. In the current scenario UNOWAS’s role of preventive diplomacy, political mediation and facilitation has become even more important. The Mission should remain focused on its mandate and work closely with national stakeholders and regional and sub-regional organizations, particularly ECOWAS, and continue assisting them in their efforts to address these challenges.

4. The security challenges in the Sahel have become alarming and the reasons are evident from the Secretary General’s report. Terrorist and extremist armed groups in the Liptako-Gourma region of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, continue to demonstrate their capacity to mount large-scale coordinated attacks on civilians as well as security forces, leading to fatalities and also driving displacement. The Lake Chad basin has been targeted primarily by terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP). The nexus among terrorists, criminals, drug traffickers and pirates continue to fuel instability and violence in these regions. Al-Qaida and ISIL affiliated terrorist groups continue to instrumentalize the religious and ethnic dimensions of the farmer-herder conflicts to their advantage.

5. While countries in the region have been confronting this challenge, individually and collectively through mechanisms such as the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel (FC-G5S) and the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), for them to be more effective, these mechanisms urgently need financial resources and logistical support. We therefore support the call of the Secretary General to ensure predictable and sustainable funding to the regional security initiatives such as G5 Sahel Joint Force.

6. Acts of piracy and robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea, despite decrease in the frequency of such incidents, remain a serious threat to the seafarers. Several Indian sailors have also been victims of piracy and kidnappings. There is an urgent need to increase surveillance to ensure maritime security in the area through increased international collaboration.

Madam President,

7. Despite the challenges posed by the Covid pandemic, the countries in the region are showing positive economic growth. In this regard, the implementation of the United Nations International Strategy for the Sahel (UNISS) assumes significance. While implementing the Strategy, we believe that UNOWAS needs to focus on utilizing the African capacities, products and services.

8. India attaches high importance to its relations with the West Africa region. India has, so far, provided soft loans more than US$ 3.5 billion for projects in West Africa and Sahel in agriculture, irrigation, water supply, energy, solar and health sectors. Under the ambit of the India-UN Development Partnership Fund, we are also providing US $ 9 million for livelihood projects in 9 West African countries. India has also established a robust security partnership with countries in the region. India remains committed to supporting countries in West Africa including through capacity building and strengthening of democratic institutions.

I thank you.

-----