The US is concerned about the rise of terrorism in Sahel and the decline of democracy in some West African countries.
Speaking at an Arria-formula meeting of the UN Security Council on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, Ambassador Robert Wood, Deputy Assistant
Secretary-General for Political Affairs of the United States, expressed deep concern about the rise of insecurity linked to terrorism and the decline of democracy in West Africa and the Sahel.
“We are deeply concerned about the rise of terrorism and the decline of democracy in West Africa and the Sahel,” said Ambassador Wood.
He underlined the crucial role of the United Nations Office for West Africa (UNOWAS) in promoting inclusive democratic processes in the region, saying that “these efforts will also strengthen counter-terrorism initiatives.”
The Sahel, considered the global epicentre of terrorism-related
deaths, requires partnerships to effectively combat this threat.
“These partnerships must include civil society in order to address the
conditions conducive to terrorism and violent extremism in a
sustainable manner,” he said.
He stressed the importance of respect for human rights and the
rule of law. “If counter-terrorism measures and laws are too broad or
vague, they can reduce civic space and lead to radicalisation to
violence,” he warned.
Ambassador Wood welcomed the efforts of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union to promote the full and equal participation of women in peace and security processes.
“It is not just a matter of having women in the room, but of ensuring that they have an important place at the table and that their voices are heard,” he said, noting that women and girls are unfortunately often victims of sexual and gender-based violence, particularly at the hands of terrorist groups such as Boko Haram.
“We strongly condemn the use of sexual violence by terrorists in the region,” the Ambassador said, adding that the UN Resolution 2734 now recognises such acts as sanctionable.
The Ambassador also expressed deep concern about the Wagner Group’s human rights abuses and the devastating impact of its disinformation.
“Wagner’s operations exacerbate popular grievances and fuel terrorist
recruitment,” he said.
According to the US diplomat, his country supports open and transparent information ecosystems to combat disinformation. “We support open and transparent information ecosystems that build resilience in the face of misinformation and propaganda,” he said, referring to the US strategy to prevent conflict and promote stability.
On the humanitarian front, the United States provided nearly $1.9 billion in humanitarian assistance across the African continent in FY2024. “We are the largest single humanitarian donor in Africa,” he said.
Finally, Ambassador Wood stressed the importance of allowing humanitarian organisations to operate freely, particularly in Burkina Faso and Niger. “We call on the Transitional Authority to allow humanitarian organisations to operate and move freely,” he concluded.
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