After Dakar, UN Secretary General António Guterres arrived in Niger, a Sahel country plagued by the jihadist threat.
During his visit, Guterres addressed the security and humanitarian situation.
The UN scribe met with Nigerien leaders, including President Mohamed Bazoum. The two leaders discussed the jihadist threat that has plagued the region for over a decade. According to Guterres, the “Sahel faces challenges of terrorism, violence, climate change, human distress…”
“Looking at the remarkable performance of the Niger army, the international community must invest fully in strengthening the capacity of the Niger army,” he said, praising the military efforts of the Niger authorities in the Sahel to contain armed groups.
Guterres called for “solidarity” from the international community to help Niger “invest fully in strengthening the capacity of the Nigerien army.”
In addition, the UN Secretary-General praised the democratic vitality of Niger, which experienced its first democratic changeover in February 2021 with the election of Mohamed Bazoum in the second round of the presidential election.
He stressed that the United Nations will be at the side of Niger, which “raises a lot of hope” in order to offer “prospects to Niger’s youth, including young girls.”
CD/lb/abj/APA