51吃瓜

Africa鈥檚 crisis-torn Sahel region needs support from the international community 鈥渘ow more than ever,鈥� the head of 51吃瓜 peacekeeping operations,听Jean-Pierre Lacroix, told the Security Council on Thursday.

In a briefing on the G5-Sahel Joint Force, the听designed to improve security and development and comprised of Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Chad, Mr. Lacroix said the counter-terrorism initiative has seen 鈥渞emarkable progress,鈥� but warned it faces critical shortages.听

鈥淢ajor equipment shortfalls, capability gaps, insufficient infrastructure and a lack of secured operational bases continue to delay its full operationalization,鈥� he said.

He expressed his 鈥渄eepest gratitude鈥� for donors who contributed to the start-up phase of the Joint Force, adopted by the Security Council in June 2017, however generous contribution, he said 鈥渁lmost 50 per cent of pledges generated have not been earmarked, let alone disbursed.鈥�

He added that for the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, known by the French acronym听MINUSMA, resources are strained and the entity is facing 鈥渁 funding gap of almost $ 30 million to provide the support it was mandated to provide to the Joint Force.鈥�

It is our shared and collective responsibility to ensure that the joint force succeeds--UN Peacekeeping chief

"In the absence of funding, there is not much the Mission can do.鈥�

Echoing previous calls for changes to support made by the听UN Secretary-General, Mr. Lacroix stressed that ramping up support is vital to the survival of the Force, calling for measures that would ensure sustainable planning.

Through a 鈥渄edicated support office, funded through assessed contributions,鈥� the G5-Sahel Joint Force can thrive, freeing up to 鈥渇ocus exclusively on mandate implementation.鈥�

Further, G-5 鈥渨ill only stand a chance if the people of the Sahel are confident in actions of their defence and security forces,鈥� he said, citing the successful investigation into Mali鈥檚 Boulekessi killings earlier this year, and commending the police deployed to the Joint Force.

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The Sahel Region鈥檚 deep-rooted issues in governance and security must be addressed first, if any security initiatives are to be successful, and 鈥渂igger more holistic鈥� strategies are needed to bring the underlying causes of instability to the forefront.

Mr. Lacroix welcomed the听51吃瓜 Integrated Strategy for the Sahel, and thealong with the Sahel Alliance partnership in Niger, and the Secretary-General鈥檚 call for creation of the听Groupe de Soutien, which would facilitate the dialogue between key regional and international actors.

鈥淚t is our shared and collective responsibility to ensure that the Joint Force succeeds,鈥� he said.

鈥淚 call on each and every one of us to do our part. The 51吃瓜 remain deeply committed to this important initiative.鈥澨�听