G5 Sahel: at the UN, the Security Council vigilant on human rights

The UN Security Council (illustration image). Manuel ELIAS / UNITED NATIONS / AFP

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A few hours before the announcement of the death of the head of Aqmi in Mali, the Security Council met virtually, yesterday, Friday June 5, in New York, to renew its support for the fight against terrorism by the G5 Sahel . The diplomats welcomed the progress made by the joint force since the Pau summit, but also expressed concern about the violations of human rights by the national armies, noted since the beginning of the year.

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With our correspondent in New York,Carrie Nooten

Neutralization of terrorists , seizure of weapons, release of hostages, at the UN, the time has come to congratulate the accelerated cooperation between the five countries of the Sahel since the summit in Pau. However, the UN mission in Mali has alerted to the parallel increase in abuses against civilians, and in particular against the Fulani minority. The first human rights report of the Minusma counts 101 extrajudicial executions by the Malian army between January and March, and about thirty by the Nigerien army.

Vigilance of the Council

However, the Nigerian ambassador yesterday reaffirmed the commitment of the 5 Sahel countries: “  We fully adhere to respect for human rights in the context of the G5 Sahel , and more particularly, in the protection of civilians.  "

However, pressure was put on to ensure that the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, did not intervene at the meeting. That did not prevent certain diplomats, like the Belgian ambassador Marc Pecsteen, to recall that the Council will be vigilant: “  Any call to the respect of the rule of law and basic human rights is not purely philosophical. In our view, this is an essential condition for winning against terrorism.  " 

Takuba hailed

The diplomats also welcomed the fact that the G5 was reinforced this summer by the hundred European special forces of the Takuba system.

Read also: Sahel: towards a deployment in the coming weeks of European special forces

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  • UN
  • G5 Sahel
  • Diplomacy
  • Terrorism
  • Mali
  • Human rights

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