Mr. Chair, Excellencies, Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,
We thank Sierra Leone for this timely Arria, as the Council needs to address the dramatic increase in terrorist activities in West Africa and the Sahel.
Indeed, the security and political landscapes of West Africa and the Sahel are marred by persistent problems that remain largely unchanged and unaddressed. The humanitarian situation is deteriorating, and violations of international law and human rights are on the rise. Terrorist groups have found fertile ground as the root causes of conflict have yet to be adequately addressed.
To face this situation and prevent marginalized youth from falling into radicalization and recruitment campaigns, we must focus on extending state authority, delivering basic services, and gaining the trust of people.
Given the great challenges that Countries in the region must face, we firmly believe that unconstitutional changes in government and prolonged transitions, in the absence of a democratic framework, cannot provide sustainable solutions to terrorism in the long term. Therefore, we encourage national dialogue processes in countries in transition that can lead to regional integration and a sharing of common values and principles, as fundamental elements to reach lasting peace.
Climate change has also increased the region’s vulnerability to terrorism.
We seize this opportunity to welcome the climate, peace, and security efforts of UNOWAS, as they are crucial to help governments in West Africa and the Sahel with risk assessments and management strategies for climate change impacts. Continued cooperation between the AU, ECOWAS, UNOWAS, other UN entities, international financial institutions, and the private sector is encouraged. Continued action must be directed toward a full implementation of the “Dakar Call to Action on Climate Change, Peace, and Security”, while sustaining the efforts of the UN Regional Working Group on Climate Change, Environment, Security, and Development in West Africa.
Italy’s stance was made clear, together with other G7 Leaders, in the recent Summit held in Italy, from 13 to 15 June. On that occasion, we reiterated our concern for the deterioration of the security situation in the Sahel, including the spread of terrorism and violent conflict. We shared how the challenge of growing political tension, confrontation, and instability in the Sahel requires renewed efforts by all relevant actors and stakeholders in reshaping international and regional responses. We called upon the States of the Sahel to accelerate the pace of transition for a return to constitutional order, and stand ready to assist them, highlighting the importance of strengthened cooperation and coordination between the UN, the AU and sub-regional organizations.
When we talk about combating terrorism and violent extremism, much can be done through prevention – which makes preventing terrorism just as important as fighting it. Italy is a strong supporter of preventive measures and believes that more can be done. In this sense, we emphasize the importance of international cooperation at the police and judicial levels. Furthermore, we must work to prevent people from succumbing to the lure of terrorism that often exploits social phenomena, such as unemployment, crime and the spread of extremist ideologies.
Italy, among other initiatives at global level and coherently with this approach, provides support to the UNOCT Center in Rabat and was really pleased to be invited as an observer to the III session of the “Marrakech Platform” held in Morocco at the beginning of June and to attend the High-Level African Counter-Terrorism Meeting held in April in Nigeria. Our partnership with UNOCT also extends to border security management in the Sahel. Furthermore, I want to mention the trilateral cooperation project with Kenya and Jordan in the field of early- warning of extremism in local communities, held last year, and the new one in the pipeline on prevention of extremism in prisons and through the role of women in local communities.
Mr. Chairman and colleagues,
Finally, I would like to reiterate Italy’s commitment to reaffirm the importance of dialogue among the States of the region, supported by international parties, namely the UN agencies operating in the field and other regional bodies, such as ECOWAS. We should spare no effort to create the conditions for lasting peace and development in the whole area, including the coastal States.
Thank you.
