Statement by H.E. Ambassador ISHIKANE Kimihiro, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, at the United Nations Security Council Briefing, Agenda item “Peace Consolidation in West Africa”

I would like to thank Ms. Biha, Deputy Special Representative and Officer-in-Charge of UNOWAS, for her briefing and His Excellency Dr. Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, for his insights. I thank also the PBC for the valuable written comments.
 
First, Japan appreciates the pivotal role UNOWAS is playing in the region. As we witness the further deterioration of security and political situations in the region, UNOWAS’s efforts to build and sustain peace and stability in close coordination with regional organizations, notably ECOWAS, are all the more crucial.
 
Last month’s coup attempt in The Gambia, coming approximately one year since the conclusion of peaceful, free and fair presidential and legislative elections, is a reminder that political stability in the region needs to be reinforced. Unconstitutional changes of government undermine the security and stability of any country. In this regard, Japan applauds the leadership of ECOWAS and the African Union who have upheld clear principles.
 
On that note, Japan calls for timely preparation of free and fair elections in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea in order to ensure their returns to constitutional rule. From the perspective of the rule of law, efforts should focus on establishing effective, accountable, and democratic institutions as was reiterated by the PBC advice. As several West African countries prepare to hold elections in 2023, Japan, under the New Approach for Peace and Stability in Africa (NAPSA), will continue to support efforts to strengthen democratic institutions and governance.
 
Terrorism and violent extremism continue to be major threats to peace and security in West Africa and the Sahel and their expansion to the coastal states is of deep concern. Japan welcomes regional initiatives such as the Accra Initiative and the ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework.
 
Socio-economic development is vital for sustaining peace and stability in the region. Japan echoes the PBC advice in underscoring the importance of the rule of law in support of socio-economic development and noting the need for undertaking comprehensive institution building to enhance good economic governance.
 
Japan recognizes that the adverse effects of climate change pose a serious threat to human security. It is imperative to integrate the effects of climate change and environmental degradation into early warning systems, peacekeeping and peace building.
 
Japan strongly believes that the protection, empowerment and inclusion of, and solidary with, the vulnerable populations including women, youth, and minorities must remain at the center of efforts to bring peace and stability in the region. In this regard, Japan welcomes the efforts by　the UN and regional organizations, particularly ECOWAS and the AU, to integrate human security concerns, such as those of women and youth, into their activities including peacebuilding, security sector reform and climate action.
 
The challenges the region faces are diverse yet interconnected. Therefore, we need to take an integrated and holistic approach. In this regard, Japan looks forward to the report by the Independent High-Level Panel on Security and Development in the Sahel.　We hope its report will provide us with an assessment of and innovative recommendations on a future integrated approach to deal with the region’s challenges.
 
I would like to conclude by reiterating our support for the work of UNOWAS and its mandate extension so that it can continue engaging and aligning the work of various actors including the civil society in promoting peace and security in the complex region.