West Africa’s progress in consolidating stability and security is being jeopardized by coups and organized crime, the top United Nations envoy to the region warned today. Said Djinnit, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, told the Security Council that West Africa’s determination to "decisively" tackle its problems "have led to an important reduction in the scope and the level of violence across the sub-region."
He pointed out that "there is currently no open armed conflict going on in West Africa."
But he cautioned that the progress is fragile, as exemplified by last year’s coup d’état in Mauritania, the continued political and constitutional crisis in Niger and other obstacles – from terrorism to governance to the current global economic crisis.
Recent turmoil in Guinea-Bissau and Guinea has demonstrated that "there are powerful forces with a stake in illicit activity," Mr. Costa told the 15-member body.
"Change, in the direction of more justice and transparency, is a threat to people with a vested interest in crime," he said, calling for the reasons for the region’s vulnerability to be tackled to make it less attractive to traffickers.
But the UNODC chief emphasized that drugs are not the only goods being trafficked, with a new agency report showing that West Africa is also a hub for cigarettes, arms, counterfeit medicines and oil, among others.
Source: allafrica.com
Edited by: AHU – David A-O