Next April, Lomé will host a high-level conference on political transitions and the fight against terrorism in the Sahel and West Africa.
This was disclosed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which is behind the project. The related press release further notes that Robert Dussey, the Togolese Minister of Foreign Affairs, presented the project to Antonio Gutierrez, the UN Secretary-General, on Thursday 10 February 2022 in New York.
The meeting will allow the various stakeholders to examine recent trends and developments in the Sahel region and West African countries in the face of violent extremism and terrorism, and to reflect on strategies and means to help contain the terrorist threat.
Amid rising tensions and growing security issues in the sub-region, the planned conference will also be an opportunity to reflect on possible reforms to the actions and mandates of peacekeeping operations, to make sure that they better match needs in the field.
The conference “not only responds to an urgent concern but is also part of Togo’s sub-regional and inter-regional strategy to fight terrorism and preserve peace in the Sahel,” according to Robert Dussey.
In response to the Togolese official’s presentation, the UN’s SG “welcomed Togo’s proactivity on this topical issue and reassured him of the support of the United Nations, which is increasingly concerned about the serious issues of terrorism, crime and coups d’état that are shaking the West African region and some Sahelian countries,” the ministry of foreign affairs reported.
Back in September 2021, Togo, let’s recall, presented its strategy for the Sahel, which revolves around levers such as multilateral cooperation, the export of peace, or support for the process of political normalization and democratic transitions.
