UNITED NATIONS, July 13 (Xinhua) -- The UN envoy for Africa on Thursday called on the Security Council to further support the fight against terrorism in West Africa, including strengthening the UN Integrated Strategy for the Sahel.
"Terrorism and violent extremism, which aggravate humanitarian crises and erode the integrity of the region's States, have exacerbated traditional threats in West Africa and the Sahel region, which includes Mali, Mauritania, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Nigeria and Niger and Chad," warned Mohamed Ibn Chambas, the head of the UN Office for West Africa (UNOWAS).
The efforts of the region's states towards broader development, increased investment, improved infrastructure and job creation are being undermined by factors of insecurity "both traditional and new," he added.
"These factors, combined with climate change, youth bulge and unemployment and unchecked urbanization constitute veritable push factors underpinning the surge in irregular migration and human trafficking," he said.
In the Sahel, instability in Mali continues to spread into northeastern Burkina Faso and western Niger, as evidenced by the recent deadly attacks in the border areas between these three countries, said the envoy.
In the Liptako-Gourma region, which links Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, the past month has been marked by an intensification of terrorist activities and violent extremism, including coordinated cross-border attacks on border crossings.
The envoy called on the Security Council to further support the national and regional initiatives of the Sahel states against violent extremism and terrorism.
Turning to the situation in the Lake Chad Basin, Chambas said that despite the remarkable efforts of the Multinational Joint Force against Boko Haram, recent attacks demonstrated that the terrorist group remains a "serious threat" to the region.
"This insecurity also extends to the Gulf of Guinea, where piracy is increasing," he said.
In view of these threats, he thinks the UN Integrated Strategy for the Sahel presents an effective multidimensional response to streamline efforts and reduce duplication between the various initiatives in the Sahel.
Chambas said he is ready to continue working with the states of the region to strengthen justice, the rule of law, security reform and national reconciliation.
