UNSC Briefing and Closed Consultations on G-5 Sahel 

(Friday, 12 November 2021; 1000 hrs EST/ 8:30pm IST)

INDIA STATEMENT

by

Mr. R. Madhu Sudan, Counsellor

I would like to thank USG for Department of Peacekeeping Operations Jean Pierre Lacroix for his briefing today. I also thank Permanent Representative of Chad for presenting the views of G5 Sahel. The Chadian contingent has been playing a key role in G5 Sahel and we value the inputs provided on practical challenges that G5 Sahel is facing on the ground. I also thank the CSO briefer Ms. Fatimata Ouilma Sinare for her insights. 

2. The security  situation  in  the G5  Sahel countries, particularly in  Mali  and  the  Liptako  Gourma  tri-border  area  shared  by  Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso continues to be a matter of serious concern. The attacks by terrorist and armed groups have increased in the recent months. The accounted civilian death toll  from these attacks  in Niger alone is estimated to have crossed 600. Earlier this month, in the western region of Tillaberi in Niger 69 people were killed. In June earlier this year, more than 100 people were killed in a village in Burkina Faso. 

3. Secretary General’s recent report on the threat posed by ISIL/Da’esh also highlighted that terrorism in Africa continues to expand in strength and in its area of control. We heard the same from Mr El-Ghasim Wane, SRSG and Head of MINUSMA two weeks back in the Council meeting on situation in Mali. I would also like to recall the Council’s recent visit to Mali and Niger, and our interactions with leadership and various stakeholders who unequivocally mentioned that addressing the threat of terrorism is a pre-condition for achieving any sustainable peace in the Sahel region. Countering terrorism in Sahel is not just the responsibility of countries in the region, it is an obligation of the international community as well. 

4. The Council has been grappling with the issue of support to regional security initiative such as Joint Force of G5 Sahel for last 3 years and has remained divided on the ways and modalities of support to the regional security initiative. Indecisiveness of the Council unfortunately has allowed the terrorist groups to expand their area of influence.

5. Mr. President, the threat of terrorism in Sahel is real. The countries of the Sahel region look up to the Security Council, to enable them to fight the terrorist groups more effectively. In this regard, I would like to make the following 3 points:

i. First, we all acknowledge that the security situation in Sahel has become more complex and violent in the recent years. The role  of  MINUSMA  continues to be critical  in supplementing the efforts of Malian authorities to bring stability  in  the  volatile  northern  and  central  regions  of  Mali.   At the same time, the operational  support   by MINUSMA  to the Joint Force of  G5 Sahel has not proved enough. It is, therefore important that traditional  peacekeeping needs to be complemented by regional operations to neutralize terrorist groups and entities.

ii. Second, the Council has been reiterating its support for the African solutions for African issues. The Council must walk the talk and support the Joint Force of G5 Sahel, including by providing the Joint Force necessary financial  support  through UN assessed contributions.

iii. Third, the Council  has  been  discussing  the  various options of support to the Joint Force  of  G5 Sahel. We have witnessed the limitations of logistics support to the Joint Force by MINUSMA. This approach has burdened MINUSMA affecting  implementation  of  its core tasks. The Secretary General  has  now  provided  two options  First, an Advisory Office to the G5 Sahel Executive Secretariat, and second, a dedicated UN support office in Sahel, a suggestion which the Secretary General has been making for past few years.  We need to seriously look into both these options. 

6. In concluding, Mr. President, the  Joint  Force of  G5 Sahel is the best hope for long-term regional ownership of maintaining peace and security in the  vast Sahel region. The G5 Sahel Force needs sustainable, predictable and necessary support to deal with terrorist and armed groups. Sahel countries have shown resolve and determination to take on terrorism. We need to support them unequivocally. Failure to do so could result in serious political  and security implications in the region and beyond.

I thank you, Mr. President.

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