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Elections to consolidate Peace and Governance
The year 2023 is an important year for West Africa and the Sahel. The people of six countries are set to vote in a variety of major elections, the peaceful, credible and inclusive organization of which will play a vital role in consolidating peace and governance.
Nigeria was the first of this series, with presidential elections on February 25 and government elections on March 18. Mauritania (legislative and local on May 13), Gambia (local on April 15- May 20), Guinea Bissau (legislative on June 4), Sierra Leone (general election on June 24), Liberia (presidential and legislative on October 10), and Côte d’Ivoire (local in November-October) will soon follow.
These elections raise great hopes among populations that aspire to peace and development. However, if the principles of freedom, fairness and transparency are not the central tenants of elections, they can also be a source of tension, likely to disturb and threaten the stability of a country. The United Nations system, through its Resident Coordinators, is often called upon to provide technical and operational support to national partners in their efforts to prepare and organize elections in a peaceful atmosphere.
The United Nations Office in West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), also driven by this objective, devotes a large part of its good offices efforts to supporting national authorities and actors in their efforts to organize peaceful, transparent and inclusive elections.
The various good offices missions undertaken before, during and after the presidential elections in Nigeria last February, as well as the support provided to the organization of stakeholder forums, the agreement for peaceful elections by candidates committed to respecting the rule of law and human rights; these all demonstrate UNOWAS’ unwavering desire to mobilize everyone in favor of the consolidation of peace and democracy in Nigeria and the countries of the subregion.
But beyond the need to work towards peaceful elections, we must redouble our efforts to continue mobilizing against the multiple and pernicious challenges facing West African countries. Major challenges persist and require the commitment of all of us to improve the living conditions of the population and the economic situation, strengthen good governance, the rule of law, and consolidate peace.
In coordination with its partners, UNOWAS will continue its commitment to support the organization of peaceful, transparent and inclusive elections, and will remain mobilized through its various activities and interventions to promote peace, development and democracy in West Africa and the Sahel.