Governance challenges in West Africa concern the United Nations

While speaking before the Security Council, the representative stressed that the situation in the past six months was characterized by contradictory developments, between progress achieved in consolidating democracy and challenges on other fundamental issues.

He explained that, on the other hand, the United Nations retains a key role in Mali after the departure of the stabilization mission in the country, which leaves necessary lessons for a rapidly approaching future.

At the same time, the High Representative said, the departure of foreign forces and uncertainty about the G5 institutional coordination framework for the Sahel region following the withdrawal of Burkina Faso and Niger heralds a reshaping of regional security coordination mechanisms.

The picture looks very different in Chad, where coordinated operations within the framework of the Multinational Joint Task Force have contributed to achieving fragile stability in the Lake Chad region.

On the other hand, education records disturbing numbers due to the increase in the number of children out of school, the number of closed schools due to insecurity, and the worsening educational deficit.

“Looking to the future, the deliberations provide a starting point for a multi-stakeholder roadmap to advance education in emergencies as the most important way for children to shape their futures and build their countries,” he urged.

At the same time, climate change is having a strong impact on the region, as evidenced by the conditions in the Lake Chad Basin and the Liptako-Gourma region.

“We express our deep concern about the serious negative impact of climate change on peace and security in West Africa and the Sahel region and call for urgent measures,” he warned.

According to Santos Simão, the region faces prolonged droughts and unpredictable rainy seasons, causing floods and harming overall peace and security.

lam/ebr