The UN has spoken on the
challenges it’s facing in the demarcation of the Cameroon-Nigeria border and
the pillar construction due to Boko Haram activities.
This is contained in a ‘Report of
the Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, on the activities of the United
Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS)’.
Guterres also cited the unrest in
the English-speaking regions of Cameroon as partly contributing to the
challenges faced by the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission.
He recalled that parties to the
Mixed Commission met in Lagos, Nigeria, on March 19 and March 20 to finalise
the implementation of reinforced security measures for field operations.
Guterres said his Special
Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, also
Chairman of the Mixed Commission, on March 18 in Abuja and on May 15 in
YaoundĂ©, “engaged in bilateral consultations with the heads of the Nigerian and
Cameroonian delegations to work on outstanding areas of disagreement”.
“Overall, the parties reaffirmed
their commitment to implementing the judgment of the International Court of
Justice of October 2002 and to fully demarcating the land and maritime
boundaries shared by the two countries.”
On the conflicts between herdsmen
and farmers, he said UNOWAS supported the ECOWAS Commission in the development
of a regional action plan on transhumance.
Guterres noted the office also
established an informal working group on pastoralism and conflict prevention
with the participation of the UN and regional entities working on the issue.
“In Abuja, from April 24 to April
26, UNOWAS participated in a ministerial and experts meeting on conflicts
between herders and farmers in West Africa, organised by the ECOWAS Commission
and the Government of Nigeria.
“Relevant recommendations
included the need for States to report on the implementation of the ECOWAS
transhumance protocol,’’ the UN Chief said.
On Boko Haram, he said his
Special Representative continued to support diplomatic, security and
humanitarian responses to the terrorist organisation.
“On Feb 28, my Special
Representative for West Africa and the Sahel took part in the International
Conference on Lake Chad, hosted by the Government of Nigeria with the support
of the Lake Chad Basin Commission and the United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organisation.
“The Heads of State and
Government of Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, Gabon, the Niger
and Nigeria adopted a declaration reaffirming their commitment to increase
cooperation to safeguard Lake Chad and address the socio-economic impact of
climate change and instability.
“In his capacity as my High-level
Representative for Nigeria, my Special Representative also held discussions
with security institutions and other key stakeholders on the situation in the
Lake Chad basin with a view to enhancing regional cooperation, reintegrating
ex-combatants and dealing with root causes.
“Through the facilitation of my
Special Representatives for West Africa and the Sahel and for Central Africa,
the governors of territories bordering Lake Chad met for the first time in
Maiduguri, Nigeria on May 8 and May 9.
“They established the Lake Chad
Basin Governors’ Forum to enhance joint efforts towards building peace and
fostering sustainable development across the Lake Chad basin.
Guterres congratulated the
Government of Nigeria for conducting trials of Boko Haram suspects and urge the
acceleration of the reintegration of victims and other categories of
individuals associated with extremist groups in all affected countries.
“I encourage national authorities
to provide critical humanitarian assistance to vulnerable communities.
“In addition, I reiterate my call
on the international community to increase political, humanitarian, logistical
and financial assistance to the affected countries, the Lake Chad Basin
Commission, the Joint Force of the G-5 Sahel and the Multinational Joint Task
Force, and to advance the disbursement of pledged funds”.
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