UN General Assembly
2019

Across our region, we are facing increasing threats from the rise of terrorism, violent extremism, the proliferation of illicit weapons and drug trafficking, including human trafficking. Deadly terrorist attacks have become more organized, sophisticated and frequent in an increasing number of countries in the subregion. We are grateful to the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel and to ECOWAS for constantly championing the problems of the region and we underscore the urgent need to successfully implement the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel. The Strategy needs to simultaneously address the security and development challenges of the region with a renewed sense of commitment. More international and regional cooperation and solidarity are needed to tackle the pervasive insecurity and underdevelopment in the Sahel. Without peace, the Sahel and West Africa will find it difficult to meet the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063 of the African Union.