The International Coalition of the Sahel held its first meeting yesterday, 12th of June 2020. In an earlier meeting held in Pau (France) held on 13th January, 2020, members took a decision to launch an international coalition at the request of Sahel countries.
The first meeting which took place yesterday was held virtually due to COVID-19 and its associated new normals.
It brought together Ministers from ECOWAS States, European Ministers, USA, UK, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia Egypt, South Africa, Gulf States as well as representatives from international organizations (UN, AU, EU, ECOWAS, UNOWAS) and members of the Sahel Alliance).
The virtual meeting was held to finalize the rules of organization and operation and to adopt common objectives and commitments. In addition the terms of reference for the coalition were expected to be endorsed at the meeting.
Addressing foreign dignitaries and ministers present, Hon Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration mentioned that, the security and economic challenges of the Sahel have undermined the economic and general development of the ECOWAS region. “These challenges have been exacerbated by the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic which has taken over the attention and resources of both international and domestic actors, and as a result violent extremists are exploiting the situation.”
She noted that, terrorism and acts perpetrated by violent extremists in the Sahel-Saharan region have become trans-border threats, with the potential to spread to coastal states in West Africa. She said, “The acts of terrorism have, unfortunately, assumed worrisome proportions over the past several months. ECOWAS, therefore, launched the 2020 – 2024 Action Plan to end terrorism in the ECOWAS region, with a general framework, a strategy, a funding mechanism and priority areas to maintain the momentum in the fight against terrorism.”
She then moved to urge all members of the coalition to commit themselves to the rules and collaborate with the Sahel countries, ECOWAS and the African Union. “At the same time, we should keep in mind that the solution must be a regional one and that the problem needs not be made complex by outside forces,” she stated.
The vulnerability of the Sahel region coupled with its isolation has hampered its socio-economic development. The lack of adequate governance and strong institutions, as well as weak social cohesion constitute structural factors that have contributed to the cycle of underdevelopment, conflict and vulnerability to trans-national crime and violence.
The Sahel region combined with its inability to provide job opportunities for the fast-growing youth population, have also increased poverty and made the region vulnerable to illicit trafficking and organized crime.
The International Coalition for the Sahel is a response to a demand from the G5 Sahel countries (Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger) which seeks to mobilize international partners on the basis of an integrated approach, which combines dialogue, military support and in the broader field of security and stability, development cooperation and humanitarian assistance.
With the objective to address the root causes of the terrorist crisis in the region, adopt an integrated approach, and to help facilitate full humanitarian access, the coalition is also responsible for ensuring that international humanitarian law is observed.
