UN / WEST AFRICA AND SAHEL

Giovanie Biha, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, told the Security Council, “Despite efforts by national security forces and international partners, insecurity has again deteriorated in large parts of the region.” UNIFEED

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:15
• Production Date: 10 January 2023
• Asset Language: English
• Corporate Name: ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES - ECOWAS; UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR WEST AFRICA AND THE SAHEL - UNOWAS
• Subject Topical: PEACE CONSOLIDATION
• Geographic Subject: WEST AFRICA
• MAMS Id: 3000185
• Parent Id: 2999859
• Alternate Title: unifeed230110a

Description

STORY: UN / WEST AFRICA AND SAHEL
TRT: 02:15
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 10 JANUARY 2023, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

Shotlist

FILE - NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior UN Headquarters

10 JANUARY 2023, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, Security Council

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Giovanie Biha, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel and Officer-in-Charge of the UN Office of West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS):
“Despite efforts by national security forces and international partners, insecurity has again deteriorated in large parts of the region. As a consequence, more than ten thousand schools across the Sahel had to close leaving millions of children unable to acquire the necessary skills to build their lives and their countries.”
4. Wide shot, Security Council members
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Giovanie Biha, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel and Officer-in-Charge of the UN Office of West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS):
“This is in flagrant disregard of Resolution 2601 which condemns attacks against schools and demands conflict parties to safeguard the right to education. Furthermore, nearly seven thousand health centres were forced to shut down due to the activities of armed groups, violent extremists and criminal networks.”
6. Med shot, speakers on screen
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Omar Alieu Touray, President, Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS):
“Beyond the three counties in transition, ECOWAS continues to support member states in the conduct of elections. Currently preparations for the upcoming elections this year have seen the engagement of ECOWAS with key institutions and stakeholders in the various member states.”
8. Wide shot, Security Council
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Omar Alieu Touray, President, Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS):
“Since 2009, and particularly after 2012, The Chad Basin and Central Sahel have emerged as the epicenters and incubators of terrorism and violent extremism. Initially homegrown in the case of Boko Haram in Nigeria, but steadily incorporated into the two global terrorist franchises, al Qaeda and the Islamic State.”
10. Wide shot, Security Council

Storyline

Giovanie Biha, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, told the Security Council, “Despite efforts by national security forces and international partners, insecurity has again deteriorated in large parts of the region.”

Addressing the Council via teleconference today (10 Jan), Giovanie Biha, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, said, “As a consequence, more than ten thousand schools across the Sahel had to close leaving millions of children unable to acquire the necessary skills to build their lives and their countries.”

She also informed that it is “in flagrant disregard of Resolution 2601 which condemns attacks against schools and demands conflict parties to safeguard the right to education.”

According to Biha, nearly seven thousand health centres were forced to shut down “due to the activities of armed groups, violent extremists and criminal networks”.

She also informed that countries along the coast of the Gulf of Guinea have seen an increase in the number of attacks against their territories, threatening transport arteries to the landlocked countries further north.

Dr Omar Alieu Touray, the President of the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), also briefed the Council.

According to him, “Beyond the three counties in transition, ECOWAS continues to support member states in the conduct of elections.”

He also noted, “currently preparations for the upcoming elections this year have seen the engagement of ECOWAS with key institutions and stakeholders in the various member states.”

The President of ECOWAS also mentioned, “Since 2009, and particularly after 2012, The Chad Basin and Central Sahel have emerged as the epicenters and incubators of terrorism and violent extremism.”

He explained, “Initially homegrown in the case of Boko Haram in Nigeria, but steadily incorporated into the two global terrorist franchises, Al-Qaida and the Islamic State.”