Peace consolidation in West Africa - Security Council, 9890th meeting

‘Efforts to address root causes of conflict, mitigate impact of climate change’ in West Africa, Sahel must be supported, senior official tells Security Council.

• Categories: Meetings & Events / Security Council
• Video Length: 01:36:48
• Production Date: 3 April 2025
• Asset Language: Arabic; English; French; Russian; Spanish; Chinese; Original
• Personal Subject: LEONARDO SANTOS SIMÃO
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR WEST AFRICA AND THE SAHEL - UNOWAS; ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES - ECOWAS
• Subject Topical: PEACE AND SECURITY; CONFLICT; CLIMATE CHANGE; ELECTIONS; WOMEN'S RIGHTS; GENDER EQUALITY; EDUCATION; DISCRIMINATION; HUMANITARIAN CRISIS; DISPLACED PERSONS
• Geographic Subject: WEST AFRICA; SAHEL
• MAMS Id: 3357722
• Parent Id: 3357228

Description

Preserving a regional framework for cooperation on peace and security remains critical in West Africa and the Sahel, where military takeovers, undemocratic governance, terrorism, poverty and climate change continue to pose serious challenges, speakers told the Security Council today. 

“Eighty years after its creation, the United Nations remains more critical than ever,” said Leonardo Santos Simão, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and Sahel (UNOWAS), highlighting the need for collective efforts to address the region’s persistent and multifaceted challenges.

 Today’s meeting, during which the Special Representative provided an overview of the situation in the region and the activities of his Office (document S/2025/187), comes as Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger — following military takeovers — withdraw from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and establish the Alliance of Sahel States as a collective defence mechanism. 

• Briefer: Mr. Leonardo Santos Simão, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel and Head, United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (via video-teleconference) 
• Briefer: Ms. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Founding Director, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center 
• Statements: All Council members, with Sierra Leone speaking on behalf of: Algeria, Guyana, Sierra Leone, Somalia

Related Sites and Documents

UN Press Coverage

S/PV.9890