From 4 to 8 August 2016, the Africa Union High Representative for Mali and the Sahel (MISAHEL), Mr. Pierre Buyoya, and the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-general for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Mr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, conducted a joint visit to N’Djamena, Chad, as part of the framework of the Ministerial Coordination Platform for the Sahel strategies which is currently chaired by Chad.

During their joint visit, Mr. Ibn Chambas and Mr. Buyoya met with the Chadian authorities, including the Minister for Foreign Affairs and African Integration, the Minister of Defense, the Minister for Planning. The UN and AU officials met also with the Executive Secretary of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), the Force Commander of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), the Force Commander of Operation Barkhane and the Head of the Liaison office of the African Union in Chad.

The meetings reviewed the political and security situation in the Sahel region as well as the current humanitarian crisis. The discussions focused in particular on the situation in Mali, the progress accomplished in the fight against Boko Haram, and the continued humanitarian challenges faced by the countries of the Lake Chad Basin.

The UN and AU representatives condemned the explosive device attack on Sunday 7 August against a convoy of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), south of Aguelhok, in Kidal region, that claimed the life of one peacekeeper and injured four others.

The MISAHEL-UNOWAS delegation praises the commitment of the Chadian authorities for peace and security, and encourages them to further harmonize the ongoing regional initiatives for the Sahel. In this regard, it was agreed to hold the next meeting of the Ministerial Coordination Platform for the Sahel in N’Djamena, in November 2016.

The African Union and the United Nations remain committed to support the efforts of the countries involved in the fight against terrorism in the region, in particular in North Mali and the Lake Chad Basin Area, and to mobilize all partners in this endeavor.