Message from the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for West Africa and the Sahel

Leonardo Santos Simão

The people of West Africa and the Sahel deserve to live in peace and prosperity. It’s their right

The International Day of Peace that we are celebrating today coincides this year with the 25th anniversary of the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of the Declaration and Program of Action on a Culture of Peace.

This reminds us that peace is not simply the absence of conflict, but a positive, dynamic, participatory process that promotes dialogue and conflict resolution in a spirit of mutual understanding and cooperation.

The need for peace, stability, and development for the people of West Africa and the Sahel is legitimate, necessary, and urgent.

The increasing number of despicable acts of terrorism and their trail of dead, injured and displaced persons, particularly in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, are causing a profound tragedy whose trauma is likely to affect entire generations for a long time to come.

No act of terrorism, in whatever form, can be justified or tolerated.

One death is one too many.

I condemn all acts of terrorism perpetrated in the countries of the sub-region and I express my sympathy and solidarity with the families of the victims, the populations, and the authorities.

I urge the members of the international community and all partners to mobilize to act together in support of the people who deserve a better life.

I encourage the national authorities to continue their efforts to implement programs to prevent and combat violent extremism and terrorism, in coordination with regional partners.

I also encourage them to continue to act in accordance with the fundamental principles of human rights and the rule of law, in a spirit of inclusion and in synergy with the people, particularly women, young people and marginalized communities.

We must act together now.   We must reject the trivialization of violence.

The people of West Africa and the Sahel, like people everywhere, deserve to live in peace and prosperity. This is their right.

UNOWAS, in coordination with the United Nations country teams, will continue to act with determination and commitment to help prevent conflicts, anchor peace, and achieve sustainable development goals in West Africa and the Sahel.

The support of the United Nations is and will remain unwavering.