[ad_1]
The U.S. said Tuesday that Kremlin-backed Russian military contractors have interfered in the internal affairs of African nations, “increasing the likelihood of violent extremism growing” in the Sahel region, which faces increased attacks and deteriorating security. Russia’s claims were rejected.
US Deputy Ambassador Richard Mills lashed out at the Wagner Group at a UN Security Council meeting on West Africa and the Sahel, blaming the Wagner Group for its failure to address extremist threats, depriving countries of resources, and violating human rights. and endangered the world. Safety and security of UN peacekeepers and staff.
French political counselor Isis Jaraud-Darnault agreed with Mills, saying the “model” used by Wagner’s mercenaries had proven “totally ineffective in the fight against terrorism”. It cited the “heinous” and devastating effects of its activities and human rights abuses, including the killing of more than one million civilians and the looting of natural resources.
British Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations James Kariuki cited deteriorating security, especially in Mali, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and the Lake Chad basin, and fears of destabilization spreading to coastal states in West Africa. We cannot ignore the destabilizing role they play, they are part of the problem, not the solution,” he told the council.
Read also: Last French soldier leaves Central African Republic
Russia’s deputy UN ambassador Anna Evstigneva rejected attempts to “provide Russian assistance to Mali, and to other African countries,” with which Russia has bilateral agreements to support the interim government.
“Today, some countries have declared that Russia is clearly plundering and looting African resources and contributing to the growing threat of terrorism,” she said, adding that the unnamed country ” All over the world, and in Africa, they have accused them of doing the same. Entire regions have been destabilized, especially in neighboring Libya.
“Given common sense, the accusations against Russia are astonishing,” she said, undermining African leaders trying to solve their own problems and decide who they want to work with.
Evstigneeva never mentioned the Wagner Group by name. The group is run by Evgeny Prigozhin, a close aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, and its mercenaries have been recruited by Western and UN experts from large numbers across Africa, including the Central African Republic, Libya and Mali. accused of human rights violations.
Read also: French minister dismisses accusations of interference in Burkina Faso
Jovany Bija, Deputy Director of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel, told the council that “large parts of the region are once again deteriorating in security” due to the activities of armed groups, violent extremists and criminal networks.
As a result, more than 10,000 schools have been closed across the Sahel, leaving millions of children without education and close to 7,000 health centers, she said.
Armed groups are fighting for hegemony and control of resources, and the central Sahel faces “unprecedented levels of security and humanitarian challenges and socio-political instability, exacerbated by the impacts of climate change.” and food insecurity has been exacerbated by climate change,” she said. Ukrainian conflict. ”
She added that increasing attacks in countries along the Gulf of Guinea are threatening shipping arteries to landlocked countries further north.
Read also: Demonstrators return to the streets of Sudan
More than 18.6 million people in the region are experiencing “severe food insecurity,” an increase of 5.6 million since the end of June 2022, according to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ latest report published this week. with Burkina Faso, Niger and Nigeria having the highest numbers. the hardest hit. Around 6.3 million people have also been displaced across the Sahel region, an increase of 300,000 since June.
West Africa’s latest coup wave began in Mali in 2020, followed by Guinea in 2021 and Burkina Faso in January 2022.
Omar Alieu Touray, Chairman of the Committee of the West African Regional Group ECOWAS, is pleased to report that the transition to important elections is “underway” in the three countries, and that the votes will take place within the next two years. told the council.
[ad_2]
Source link
