Credit: Wikipedia /  UN Security Council July 28, 2020 discussed the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin, as well as the challenging security situation in West Africa.

By Gary Raynaldo      DIPLOMATIC TIMES

UNITED NATIONS  –  NEW  YORK –  The UN Security Council expressed concern Tuesday over the continued deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation in the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin, as well as the challenging security situation in West Africa.  The Security Council adopted a presidential statement calling for national, regional and international support for countries of the region. In a statement issued by German ambassador Christoph Heusgen, Council President for July,  the 15-member organ voiced its deep concern about dire situation in the Sahel and the Lake Chad region  in West Africa, fueled by such factors as terrorism, transnational organized crime and conflicts between pastoralists and farmers. In particular, the Council voiced concern over the latest tensions in Mali, urging stakeholders to prioritize the use of dialogue and refrain from actions likely to further tensions.  It emphasized the need for national stakeholders in Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea and Niger to work together to facilitate the timely preparation for, and holding of, genuinely free and fair, credible, timely and peaceful elections.  Meanwhile, it called on political stakeholders in Guinea to resume dialogue without delay.

Security Council Statement Addresses MALI Political Crisis

The draft Council statement addresses the ongoing sociopolitical crisis in Mali, where large-scale protests that began last month have called for the resignation of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. It urges stakeholders to prioritise dialogue—taking into account ECOWAS’ recommendations from its 19 July communiqué—and to work inclusively and constructively to preserve the rule of law.  It urges stakeholders to prioritise dialogue—taking into account ECOWAS’ recommendations from its 19 July communiqué—and to work inclusively and constructively to preserve the rule of law.

Russia and China Questioned Identifying COVID impact on  “Marginalized Groups” 

 The Security Council  statement underlines the importance of international cooperation and solidarity; and welcomes efforts and contributions of UNOWAS, the AU, ECOWAS and other member states in the fight against the pandemic; and acknowledges the UN’s Global Humanitarian Response Plan for COVID-19.   However, when Russia broke silence last week, it asserted that most of its comments on the text had not been addressed.  For example, in the paragraph on COVID-19, neither Russia nor China had been comfortable with identifying the pandemic’s disproportionate effect on “marginalized groups” and then listing those groups, apparently questioning what and who constituted marginalised groups. After an initial comments period, the penholders placed the revised draft statement under silence on 17 July. Russia and China broke silence on 20 July, and France broke a second silence procedure two days later, before agreement on the draft statement was reached on Friday (24 July).

On the presidential elections later this year in Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, and Niger, the draft statement emphasises the need for national stakeholders to work together for their timely preparation, and in order to be free and fair, credible, timely and peaceful.