Attachments
I. Introduction
1. The present report covers the period from 1 January to 30 June 2024 and contains an overview of developments and trends in West Africa and the Sahel and the activities of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS). It also highlights progress made in the implementation of the United Nations integrated strategy for the Sahel and includes an update on the situation in the Lake Chad Basin, pursuant to Security Council resolution 2349 (2017).
II. Developments and trends in West Africa and the Sahel
2. The period under review was marked by continuing transition processes in countries that have experienced unconstitutional changes of government, positive electoral processes in some coastal States and a security and humanitarian environment that remains precarious. The announcement on 28 January by Burkina Faso, Mali and the Niger of their decision to withdraw, with immediate effect, from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), further raised questions regarding the future of the ECOWAS regionalism agenda. The three countries criticized ECOWAS for not helping them to fight terrorism and insecurity, but rather imposing severe and inhumane sanctions on them. Overtures of reconciliation, such as the lifting of some sanctions and calls for dialogue, have been made by ECOWAS in order to avert a definite exit of the three countries by the stipulated one-year formal notification period. Meanwhile, the decision of the three countries to withdraw from ECOWAS has further reduced the momentum for return to constitutional rule, as the recently concluded national dialogues in Burkina Faso and Mali ended with recommendations supporting the extensions of the transition to 2029 and 2027, respectively. Amid stringent restrictions to the civic and political space, the transitional authorities in Guinea have also confirmed that the timeline for the return to constitutional order will not be met, leading to heightened tensions with the political opposition. In addition, there was a resurgence of inter-State tensions, as evidenced by the bilateral crisis between Benin and the Niger, as well as between Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire.
3. In positive developments, the democratic transfer of power following the elections in Liberia and Senegal ushered in new leadership, who are articulating policies to translate popular aspirations for change. For instance, following the pre-electoral tensions in Senegal, the new Government has announced a programme of reforms, including an ambition to play a role in ECOWAS reforms.
4. On security, despite localized improvements, the overall situation in the region remained precarious, especially in the central Sahel, leading to an ongoing reconfiguration of their international partnerships. Regarding the human rights situation, severe restrictions to the freedoms of expression and of assembly in various countries increasingly limited civic and political space. The humanitarian situation remains concerning, as civilian populations continued to be gravely affected by insecurity, while the number of displaced persons has increased. Schools and health services are non-operational owing to insecurity.