Good morning,
First, let me thank you for being here today and welcome you to my first press conference. I am convinced that we will have many opportunities in the future to interact in order to maintain a productive and useful cooperation between us.
It is necessary today to share with you my vision of the situation in the Sahel and the role of the United Nations in general, and my role in particular. In a consultative approach, I met with the heads of state and officials of the governments of the countries that my mandate primarily covers—namely Mali, Niger, Mauritania, and Burkina Faso. I will do the same in the near future by visiting Chad. In the same approach, I also met with other key regional and international partners involved in the Sahel region. Governments in the Sahel region, as well as regional and international partners, all share the same conclusion: some progress has been made, but the Sahel continues to face many challenges that hinder development and threaten stability.
During my visits to the region, I witnessed with appreciation the commitment of Heads of State and Government to continue institutional reforms necessary for good governance—vital for sustainable development and stability. As of next year, the region will also hold important elections. I hope they will further strengthen ongoing reforms and usher in an era of stability and prosperity for the entire region.
We must all—governments, stakeholders, and those concerned about the future of the region—remain vigilant. We must act together to do more, better, and faster. The threat of terrorism, which affects not only the Sahel but also North, West, and Central Africa, could plunge these regions into a spiral of violence, impacting the continent’s long-term stability.
In this context, the deterioration of the political and security situation in Libya requires urgent international attention. The international community must act—working closely with countries in the region—to contain this crisis and prevent further violence and insecurity. I am also deeply concerned by the escalating violence of Boko Haram, whose barbaric activities threaten not only Nigeria but the broader region. Meanwhile, despite progress in the Algiers talks, political and security challenges in Mali remain a source of concern. These and other challenges have the potential to destabilize the continent and negatively impact regional development.
The adoption of the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel in 2013, the Secretary-General’s visit to the region, and last year’s High-Level Meeting on the Sahel at the General Assembly all reaffirm the UN’s commitment to supporting governments and organizations in addressing the region’s challenges. The UN is working closely with governments in the Sahel through innovative approaches in governance, security, development, and resilience—key pillars of the Integrated Strategy.
In the humanitarian domain, decisive actions last year yielded significant results:
- 6 million people received lifesaving food assistance.
- 2.6 million children overcame acute malnutrition, including 1 million at risk of dying.
- 3.3 million farmers and herders received support to boost food production.
- 8.7 million children were vaccinated against life-threatening diseases such as measles.
In the area of security, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in collaboration with regional governments and partners, is implementing programs to enhance the effectiveness and accountability of criminal justice systems. These efforts aim to combat drug trafficking, transborder crime, terrorism, and corruption.
However, the United Nations does not work alone. I welcome the African Union and ECOWAS strategies for the Sahel, as well as the establishment of the G5 Sahel. These developments highlight the importance of the region but also underscore the need for effective coordination among all involved actors. While the existence of multiple strategies is positive, their coordination is essential to bring meaningful change. In this regard, the Ministerial Coordination Platform of Sahel Strategies, supported by the Technical Secretariat, provides an appropriate mechanism. Under Mali’s leadership, the platform will hold its third ministerial meeting in Bamako in mid-November.
While coordination is necessary, the role of Sahel governments remains central to transforming the region. I am encouraged by the commitment of Heads of State and Government to address these multiple challenges. Their determination to move beyond “business as usual,” exemplified by the emergence of the G5 Sahel, is key to building a stable and prosperous region.
On regional stability, I take this opportunity to commend Algeria’s leadership in advancing inter-Malian negotiations, which led to the June signing of the “Declaration of Algiers” by six armed movements and the Malian government. The subsequent roadmap and mediation team—of which the UN is a part—mark encouraging steps. I strongly urge all parties to continue this dialogue and reconciliation process to achieve lasting peace for Mali and the region.
The international community must also intensify efforts to end political and security instability in Libya and increase support for regional efforts to eradicate the Boko Haram threat.
The challenges in the Sahel and beyond are numerous, but they are not insurmountable. However, we must act more decisively to translate strategies into tangible results for the people of the region.
Finally, I thank you for your interest in the United Nations' role in Africa, particularly in the Sahel. You are also part of this mission—access to information is a vital tool for development.
Thank you.