The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, Leonardo Santos Simão, presented this Thursday to the United Nations Security Council the latest report of the Secretary-General on the activities of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), covering the period from 1 April to 31 July 2025.
In his speech, Mr. Simão expressed his concern about the deteriorating security situation in the sub-region. In particular, he highlighted an upsurge in large-scale and increasingly sophisticated terrorist attacks in Mali, Benin, Togo and Nigeria, including the use of drones, encrypted communications and collusion with transnational criminal networks. “As the spillover to coastal states has been happening, now the concern is its spread,” he warned. He also warned against the recruitment of young people by extremist groups, and the impact of this dynamic on social cohesion.
The humanitarian situation is critical. According to OCHA data, 12.8 million people are at risk of acute food insecurity, and 2.6 million children are at risk of severe malnutrition. However, only 14% of the 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan for the Sahel is currently funded. “Resource mobilization is urgently needed to save the lives of millions of people at risk,” Simão warned. He added that recent floods in several countries illustrate the region’s growing vulnerability to climate shocks.
“In the face of the terrorist threat, the member states of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) have set up a joint defence force and common structures,” Simão told the members of the Security Council, adding that consultations between ECOWAS and the AES have been initiated to strengthen cooperation. “I stressed the importance of dialogue, trust and cooperation, consistently offering my good offices,” Simão said, praising President Julius Maada Bio’s efforts to strengthen regional security.
He also welcomed the creation of a joint fusion and threat analysis cell between ECOWAS and the African Union.
Despite the challenges, Mr. Simão highlighted democratic advances in several countries. “We have reason to celebrate the democratic dividends in the region,” he said, citing institutional reforms in Senegal, the National Unity Agreement in Sierra Leone, and the efforts of the National Peace Council in Ghana. He expressed his support for the upcoming elections in Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania, while calling for a constructive dialogue in Togo.
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The Special Representative expressed concern about the shrinking civic space and human rights violations. “Strengthening national and regional mechanisms to combat impunity is essential,” he stressed, welcoming the creation of a Criminal Court of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in Bamako.
Addressing the Women, Peace and Security and Youth, Peace and Security agendas, Mr. Simão noted that all countries in the region now have National Action Plans on Security Council Resolution 1325. “But Women remain under-represented in peace processes, political parties, and security institutions,” he said. He called for increased support to operationalize the Women Mediators Rapid Response Team and strengthen the inclusion of youth in peace processes.
The Special Representative stressed the importance of water as peace and development accelerators, while reiterating his call to “through the finalization and implementation of the Sahel Regional Action Plan on Water”.
Mr. Simão also highlighted the importance of flagship projects initiated under the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel (UNISS), in cooperation with the governments of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, to address the root causes of instability and conflict.
The Representative concluded his remarks by highlighting the progress of the Cameroon-Nigeria Joint Commission. “As we move towards an exit strategy, the Commission is an example of the role of international mechanisms in supporting peacebuilding and regional cooperation,” he said.
