Saudi Arabia, Japan strengthen cultural collaboration with new MoU    Slovak president meets Saudi delegation to bolster trade and investment ties    Civil Defense warns of thunderstorms across Saudi Arabia until Tuesday    Saudi defense minister meets with Swedish state secretary    Navigating healthcare's future: Solutions for a sustainable system    Sixth foreign tourist dies of suspected methanol poisoning in Laos    Hungary's Orbán vows to ignore war crimes arrest warrant for Netanyahu    Russia gives North Korea million barrels of oil, breaking sanctions: report    Al Khaleej qualifies for Asian Men's Club League Handball Championship final    Katy Perry v Katie Perry: Singer wins right to use name in Australia    Trump picks Pam Bondi as attorney general after Matt Gaetz withdraws    Al-Jasser: Saudi Arabia to expand rail network to over 8,000 km    OMODA&JAECOO: Unstoppable global cumulative sales over 360,000 units    Al Hilal doesn't need extra support to bring new players, CEO says    Saudi Arabia sees 73.7% rise in investment licenses in Q3 2024    Rafael Nadal: Farewell to the 'King of Clay'    Indonesia shocks Saudi Arabia with 2-0 victory in AFC Asian Qualifiers    Sitting too much linked to heart disease –– even if you work out    GASTAT report: 45.1% of Saudis are overweight    Denmark's Victoria Kjær Theilvig wins Miss Universe 2024    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Many challenges remain for Sahel Joint Force, warns Lacroix
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 17 - 11 - 2020

It will take a variety of different actors to confront and deal with the "daunting challenges" in the Sahel region, the head of UN peacekeeping told the Security Council on Monday.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix noted that counterterrorism efforts in the region have "actually intensified".
"We welcome the increased coordination of security players on the ground...for a more visible presence of defense and security forces in the region as well as stepped-up pressure on terrorist groups", he said in his virtual briefing on the Joint Force of the Group of Five (G5) Sahel nations, namely Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger.
Support Joint Force
As an essential compliment to peacebuilding efforts, Lacroix urged that the Joint Force's police component be strengthened to improve military oversight as well as to support institution-building, prison reform and the "human rights compliance framework".
He also underlined that the operational and logistical support of the UN stabilization mission in Mali (MINUSMA) for the Joint Force remains "critical", particularly what he referred to as "life support consumables", which have "proven essential", especially during the rainy season.
However, the UN official highlighted the need for more "predictable funding" for the G5 Force to ensure that its robust counter-terror operations can continue without interruption.
"The G5 Sahel Joint Force plays a critical role in the regional response to violent extremism", he attested, "It is essential that it receives the assistance it requires to carry out its mandated tasks".
'Unprecedented humanitarian crisis'
Mindful of the disastrous implications that an inadequately addressed security situation in the Sahel may have on West Africa, the UN peacekeeping chief pointed out that "despite encouraging progress" made by the Joint Force, "much more remains to be done".
"As calls for the mobilization of additional resources to support the G5 Sahel's fight against terrorism continue, so do calls for increased mobilization to tackle poverty and the unprecedented humanitarian crisis that the region currently faces", he asserted.
"Strengthening the Joint Force is indeed only one aspect of the international community's support".
Good governance needed
Speaking on behalf of the G5 States, the Ambassador of Mali, Issa Konfourou, highlighted the need for "good governance" and stressed that the regional heads of State remain committed to supporting and conducting counter-terror operations with full regard for human rights.
He also cited "positive trends" regarding "better coordination of military operations" within and beyond the G5 Force, noting successes in stopping terror operations, especially along borders.
Meanwhile, Koen Vervaeke, managing director for Africa, European External Action Service, upheld that a "disturbing" confluence of events and forces throughout the Sahel requires a more "ambitious and demanding" approach to regional problems, including more inclusive and responsive governance.
He reaffirmed financial and other support for both MINUSMA and the G5 Force, and pushed for regional government reform, including through higher levels of civilian leadership and the full restoration of state authority.
Speaking in his capacity as Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission, Canadian Ambassador Robert Keith Rae, said that the Commission's efforts to tackle development and security challenges, in part through greater empowerment of women and youth, also addresses diverse "cross border risks" and called for greater access to credit, including by women entrepreneurs.
In implementing the regional goal of ensuring that conflict does not spread further – putting future development efforts at risk — Rae underscored that successful peacebuilding requires the respect of human rights and investigations of rights abuses, including those related to sexual and gender-based violence. — UN News


Clic here to read the story from its source.