Statement by Deputy Permanent Representative Anna Evstigneeva at a UNSC Briefing on Peace Consolidation in West Africa
Mr. President,
We welcome your personal participation in the meeting today. We would like to thank the Secretary-General and ECOWAS Commission President Dr. Omar Touray for their briefings. We welcome the participation of countries of the region in the meeting.
We are concerned about developments in the Sahara-Sahel region, which in recent years has become a staging ground for terrorist activity and geopolitical and economic games played by a number of external actors, first and foremost, at the expense of local civilians.
In recent weeks, JNIM fighters have attempted to impose a fuel blockade on Malian towns. This example illustrates a shift in the tactics by terrorist groups that are clearly backed by external actors, including through supplies of fairly advanced weapons and technological solutions. Whereas previously the fighters carried out isolated raids and waged resistance with large forces in strategic areas, now they have set the course for undermining the economy. Terrorists are also actively resorting to intimidation tactics against civilians, and a glaring example here is the recent public execution of popular Malian blogger Mariam Ciasse, a young active woman who spoke out in support of the Malian national army.
Unfortunately, this situation is compounded by a broad externally coordinated information campaign, aimed at destabilizing the situation in the countries of the “Sahel Trio” who are friends of ours. Anti-government fakes and references to terrorist propaganda are widely disseminated. These materials are actively picked up and amplified by the American and French media. For example, the RFI agency published an interview with Luis Martinez (France), director of the Center for International Studies (CERI), who claimed that Mali is “the most suitable candidate for creating a center for a new caliphate,” which is allegedly due to Bamako's isolation from France and some countries in the region. On November 14, a fabricated statement surfaced in the media falsely claiming that Mali’s General Staff was to introduce mandatory military service for citizens aged 18 to 45 in the country from December 1. False narratives regarding Russia's position are also multiplying.
Against this backdrop, it came as no surprise that Mali's High Authority of Communication decided to take LCI and TF1 off the air after they were found to have disseminate material justifying terrorism and inciting destabilization.
Recently, an entire espionage network was uncovered in Burkina Faso, it was led by the EU-funded International NGO Safety Organization, which conveyed to foreign states confidential information about the country's military, political, and administrative activities.
We note that in recent days, thanks partly to Russian forces escorting fuel convoys, the situation in Mali seems to be trending towards improving. The number of gas stations selling fuel has increased severalfold. On November 10, classes resumed in Malian schools following two-week closure. In the face of increased terrorist threats, the interagency Committee to manage crises is working actively under the leadership of Prime Minister Abdoulaye Maiga. We can see also that Mali’s population firmly support the government's efforts to ensure the country’s energy sovereignty.
In the current and challenging conditions, the countries of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) continue to strengthen their joint efforts to counter the terrorist threat. Let us recall here that the current dire situation in the region is not the fault of the local states but rather a direct consequence of the West's destructive intervention in Libya in 2011. The countries of the region are fighting terrorist challenges and threats, but they need genuine assistance from the international community, the kind that doesn’t have any hidden agendas and double standards. Thus, over the past month, the AES carried out another round of successful operations in the Liptako-Gourma triangle, resulting in the elimination of several gang leaders. We expect that international partners of Mali and that of other AES countries will stop exacerbating an already difficult situation and instead provide decisive support based on the requests and needs of the respective governments.
When considering terrorist threats in West Africa, we need to remember about the need to counter the financing of terrorism and stem sources of weaponry feeding terrorist. Recent assessments from the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate note that in the Sahel, most of the weapons used by Islamic State in the Greater Sahara are coming from the black market or being seized after attacks on security forces.
Mr. President,
With regard to regional initiatives and financial framework set out in UNSC resolution 2719, what is required for their implementation is painstaking work to overcome existing differences and restore trust. We also need to clearly understand who is to fight terrorism and in what territories, be willing to shoulder responsibility, and have the consent of host States. Otherwise, such efforts will repeat the fate of G5 Sahel Joint Force.
At this stage, the AES countries have every reason to be skeptical vis-à-vis such regional initiatives. Let us not forget that it was just two years ago when ECOWAS countries seriously considered the option of military intervention in Niger to “restore law and order.” Severe economic sanctions were imposed against these countries, with civilians being most affected. The membership of AES countries in the African Union (AU) remains suspended, which effectively excludes them from the regional decision-making process.
Against this backdrop, we took note of the statement made by the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf on November 9, calling for a “robust, coordinated and coherent international response to counter terrorism and violent extremism in the Sahel.” It is important to make sure that here we have genuine African solidarity: regional counterterrorism initiatives are unthinkable without the consent of the AES governments, adherence to the principles of the UN Charter, and pragmatic assessments of the situation “on the ground.”
The Russian Federation supports African countries in their fight against international terrorism and builds cooperation with them on the principles of respect and equality. We will continue to contribute to strengthening the capacity of law enforcement and armed forces in the AES countries, including through training their specialists.
We see broad opportunities to assist African national counter-terrorism institutions using UN specialized structures, particularly the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism. We are convinced that today, more than ever before, it is vital to provide technical assistance to African states in such areas as border security, information exchange, and countering the financing of terrorism. Projects to prevent the use of weapons by terrorists and improve interagency cooperation on counterterrorism in Africa, implemented with the support of the Russian Federation, have received extremely positive feedback from our African partners.
Thank you.
