UNSC: A3+ Reaffirms Support for West African States Against Terrorism
The A3+ group at the Security Council, comprising Algeria, Somalia, Sierra Leone, and Guyana, reaffirmed its unwavering commitment on Thursday in New York to assist West African and Sahelian states in combating terrorism, restoring political trust, and accelerating socio-economic development in the region.
The group emphasized its “steadfast commitment to support member states of the West African and Sahel sub-region, as well as regional mechanisms, in their efforts to combat terrorism, restore political confidence, and promote inclusive socio-economic development—essential pillars for peacebuilding and maintaining progress,” stated Sierra Leone’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Michael Imran Kanu, who spoke on behalf of the A3+ during a Security Council session focused on peacebuilding in West Africa.
In this context, the group called for the “full and immediate” implementation of Security Council Resolution 2719 concerning the fight against terrorism and urged member states to “fulfill their obligations regarding the prevention and suppression of terrorism financing.”
According to the group, the region is currently encountering “an unprecedented rise in terrorist and extremist violence in terms of scale, intensity, and sophistication.”
Coordinated attacks by groups operating in the area, which intersect with international trafficking and organized crime networks, “constitute a multidimensional threat,” Ambassador Kanu asserted, noting that terrorist organizations “continue to acquire sophisticated weapons and exploit advanced technologies,” indicating “external financing and support.”
Highlighting the need to intensify diplomatic efforts to establish and maintain political trust in the region, the A3+ group commended the “significant role” played by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in addressing security threats and promoting socio-economic and developmental goals.
In this regard, it underscored the importance of cross-border cooperation in security matters, advocating for an approach centered on “strengthening national capacities, sharing intelligence, and coordinated monitoring of common borders.”
The group also welcomed the strengthening ties between the African Union and ECOWAS in terms of security cooperation and political dialogue within the region.
Furthermore, the A3+ underscored the necessity of “leveraging existing African mechanisms, including the African Committee of Intelligence and Security Services (CISSA) and the African Union Centre for Counter-Terrorism (AU-CT), which are crucial instruments for continental action by the Union.”
The recent appointment of a special envoy for the Sahel by the Chairperson of the African Union was described by the group as a “major step” towards a more structured, integrated, and coordinated continental response to the multifaceted challenges facing the region.
Addressing the deteriorating humanitarian situation, mass population displacements, and escalating inter-community tensions in the area, the group asserted that these factors represent “a serious threat to regional stability.”
“The shocks related to climate, such as flooding and droughts, further exacerbate existing vulnerabilities,” it cautioned, urging “urgent intervention” to prevent the humanitarian situation from worsening further.
