LOC19:37
16:37 GMT
NEW YORK, Aug 27 (KUNA) -- The Security Council reiterated here today its concern about the alarming situation in the Sahel region, reaffirming its continued commitment to address the complex security and political challenges in the region.
The 15-nation body expressed grave concern about terrorist activities in the Sahel region, included by the Organization of Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati Wal-Jihad (Boko Haram), Ansar Eddine, Mouvement pour lآ’Unification et le Jihad en Afrique de lآ’Ouest and Al Mourabitoun, said a presidential statement issued here today.
The Security Council strongly condemned the recent attacks, as it also voiced concern over the serious threats to peace and security posed by armed conflict, arms proliferation and transnational organized crime in the Sahel, in addition to drug trafficking, and the increasing links, in some cases, with terrorism, the statement stressed.
"In order to respond to the threats and address their root causes," the Council emphasized once again the importance of a comprehensive and coordinated approach that encompassed governance, security, humanitarian, human rights, developmental and environmental aspects.
It also underscored the importance of national and regional ownership of the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel, and encouraged close consultation among all relevant actors, donors and partners.
Furthermore, the Council commended the growing leadership role assumed by the countries of the region and the establishment of the Group of Five for the Sahel, which aimed to address the threats to peace and security and development.
Whereas it welcomed the initiatives by the Group of Five to appoint national focal points to improve coordination with the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General, and to establish a group to meet regularly in New York to share information and follow up with the United Nations Secretariat on implementation of the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel.
The Council encouraged close cooperation between the Office of the Special Envoy and the Group of Five and other regional and international actors to tackle the threats, and welcomed the establishment of the Ministerial Coordination Platform for the Sahel to discuss common priorities under a rotating chairmanship, held by Mali from 2014 to 2015.
That platform, which included three United Nations interagency working groups on governance, security and resilience, would ensure a coordinated and coherent response to the challenges, the statement stated.
The Council also welcomed the relocation of the Special Envoyآ’s Office to the premises of the United Nations Office for West Africa (UNOWA) in Dakar, Senegal, in order to fully and directly anchor the Strategyآ’s implementation in the region and maximize synergies with the relevant entities of the United Nations system. (end)
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