2 May 2012 - The Heads of the United Nations (UN) Peace Missions in West Africa on Tuesday held their twenty-third high-level consultation in Dakar to review the progress in the coordination of the action of the UN in promoting stability in the sub-region.
 

The meeting was chaired by Said Djinnit, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General (SRSG) for West Africa (UNOWA). Albert Gérard Koenders, SRSG for Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) and Mr. Joseph Mutaboba, SRSG for Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS) as well as Louis Aucoin, Deputy SRSG for Liberia (UNMIL) and Nega Berhanemeskel, Acting Head of Mission for Sierra Leone (UNIPSIL) also participated.

The Heads of Missions in West Africa, exchanged views on a number of challenges affecting the stability of the sub-region, and ongoing initiatives to address them, with particular focus on the situation in the Sahel Region, the piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, and the fight against drug trafficking and organized crime, including through the West Africa Coast Initiative (WACI). They stressed the need for regional and international organizations to strengthen their collaboration and coordinate their initiatives to address these threats to peace and security in the sub-region, in particular in Mali and Guinea-Bissau.

The Heads of Missions expressed concerns about the recent developments in Mali and stressed the need for all stakeholders in Mali to stay the course of the 6 April Framework Agreement. In this regard, they renewed their support of the United Nations to the institutions of the transition and to the effort of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) mediation, the African Union (AU) and the UN for the full return to constitutional order and the search of a lasting settlement of the security and humanitarian situation in the North of the country.

With regard to the situation in Guinea Bissau, the Heads of Missions took note of the efforts towards restoration of constitutional order in the country, including the ongoing mediation efforts undertaken by ECOWAS, in partnership with the African Union (AU) and Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP), and taking into account the framework of the UN Security Council Presidential statement of 21 April 2012. Emphasis was put on the need to find a prompt and adequate solution in order to restore normality and address the urgent socio-economic needs of the population of Guinea-Bissau. The importance of seriously addressing the issue of drug trafficking and fast tracking demobilization aspects of security sector reform (SSR), including urgent funding needs, was also highlighted.

The Heads of Missions reviewed their collaboration on the implementation of a sub-regional security strategy to combat - within a coherent framework - cross-border threats such as movement of weapons and armed groups as well as illicit trafficking and their impact on local population.

The Heads of Missions noted the progress made in efforts to consolidate stability in Côte d'Ivoire and the improvement in the overall conditions in the country, including the economic, social and security situation and welcomed the commencement of the dialogue between the political forces in Côte d'Ivoire.

Regarding Sierra Leone, the Heads of Missions welcomed the steady progress the country continues to make in the consolidation of peace and implementing a comprehensive agenda for development and noted the importance of Presidential, parliamentary and local elections scheduled for 17 November 2012 for the country's continued progress. (Source: UNOWA)