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STORY: UN / WEST AFRICA AND THE SAHEL
TRT: 03:00
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / FRENCH / NATS
DATELINE: 03 APRIL 2025, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
FILE - NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations Headquarters
03 APRIL 2025, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, Security Council, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNOWAS Leonardo Santos Simão on screen
3. Med shot, women advocate Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi
4. SOUNDBITE (French) Leonardo Santos Simão, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS):
“The stakeholders stressed the importance of continuing diplomatic efforts and also financial support to maintain the multinational force, which is currently the only security mechanism which is operational in the region. In spite of the continued good offices to maintain the integrity of this coalition, Niger recently announced that it would withdraw from the task Force. This announcement comes at a time when security is the main concern for the region.”
5. Wide shot, Council
6. SOUNDBITE (French) Leonardo Santos Simão, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS):
“While the socio-economic indicators in the region are promising and that they have improved, they come in a large part from resource extraction and food production. But challenges such as high inflation, increased debt, climate shocks and limited budget room for manoeuvre are all persisting and they reduce government's ability to invest in services and essential infrastructure. To beef up long-term resilience, comprehensive approaches are required and partnerships that prioritise macroeconomic stability and inclusive growth, as well as stronger economic governance.”
7. Wide shot, Council
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Founding Director of Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre:
“Despite the fact that progress has been made in key areas of women's development, gender equality remains unfinished. Business women in several West African countries still face numerous challenges, including harmful traditional practices, poverty, and a lack of access to education. Many African traditional communities still conceive the duty of a woman to be primarily, that of childbearing and rearing.”
9. Wide shot, Council
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Imran Kanu, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Sierra Leone:
“The evolving security landscape has been marked by growing geopolitical tensions. In this context, the focus mostly remains on strengthening regional security mechanisms grounded in national ownership and based on cooperation among ECOWAS, the African Union, as well as neighbouring countries and other subregional initiatives. The region's stability must reflect collaborative approaches aligned with the priorities of its people.”
11. Wide shot, end of meeting
Presenting the report on the activities of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Leonardo Santos Simão, today (3 Apr) told the Security Council that “at a time when security is the main concern for the region,” Niger has recently announced its withdrawal from the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).
The MNJTF military coalition is mandated to combat the Boko Haram insurgency and also includes Benin, Cameroon, Chad, and Nigeria.
Santos Simão told the Council that at the Lake Chad Basin Governors' Forum in Maiduguri, Nigeria, stakeholders had “stressed the importance of continuing diplomatic efforts and also financial support to maintain the multinational force, which is currently the only security mechanism which is operational in the region.”
On the socio-economic front, he said, “indicators in the region are promising and that they have improved, they come in a large part from resource extraction and food production. But challenges such as high inflation, increased debt, climate shocks and limited budget room for manoeuvre are all persisting and they reduce government's ability to invest in services and essential infrastructure.”
“To beef up long-term resilience,” the Head of UNOWAS continued, “comprehensive approaches are required and partnerships that prioritise macroeconomic stability and inclusive growth, as well as stronger economic governance.”
Also briefing the Council, the Director of the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre, Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, said, “despite the fact that progress has been made in key areas of women's development, gender equality remains unfinished. Business women in several West African countries still face numerous challenges, including harmful traditional practices, poverty, and a lack of access to education. Many African traditional communities still conceive the duty of a woman to be primarily, that of childbearing and rearing.”
For his part, Sierra Leone’s Ambassador Michael Imran Kanu said, “the evolving security landscape has been marked by growing geopolitical tensions. In this context, the focus mostly remains on strengthening regional security mechanisms grounded in national ownership and based on cooperation among ECOWAS, the African Union, as well as neighbouring countries and other subregional initiatives. The region's stability must reflect collaborative approaches aligned with the priorities of its people.”
Sierra Leone is a non-permanent member of the Security-Council and a member of UNOWAS.
