President,

I thank the Special Representative Leonard Santos Simão for his briefing.

Over the recent period, countries in West Africa and the Sahel have made efforts to maintain peace and deepen cooperation and have achieved positive results. However, they have to face multiple challenges while doing so, including serious terrorist situation, increasing economic and developmental difficulties, and growing food insecurity. The international community and the Security Council should therefore provide more constructive support. I have three points to make. 

First, since the beginning of this year, Senegal and Mauritania have successfully completed their general elections, Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire are actively preparing for elections, while Burkina Faso and others are engaged in domestic political dialogue. The advancement of these important political agendas is of great significance to the consolidation of regional peace and stability. We welcome the recent ECOWAS summit and the reelection of Nigeria as rotating chairperson and expect ECOWAS to continue to coordinate and cooperate with regional countries to play a leading role in enhancing regional unity, maintaining regional stability, and promoting regional development. Regarding the political transitions in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, among others, the international communities should uphold the principle of African solutions to African problems, avoid heavy-handed pressuring, encourage all parties to bridge their differences through dialogue, and support regional countries in exploring development paths that suit their national conditions. 

Second, China appreciates the efforts of ECOWAS and regional countries to combat terrorism, and expresses serious concern about the gravity of the issue in the region. In its report, the Secretary-General points out that lack of coordination among regional counterterrorism initiatives and funding have limited the effectiveness of regional counterterrorism operations. China welcomes ECOWAS’s active promotion of the joint counterterrorism unit and the announcement to establish a regional counterterrorism center in Nigeria at the high-level African counterterrorism meeting. We support ECOWAS in continuing to play a leading role in regional counterterrorism efforts and in promoting integration and coordination among various regional counterterrorism initiatives. Countries such as Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso stand at the forefront of counterterrorism and bear the brunt of its consequences. As such, the international community should provide more constructive support in terms of funding, equipment, and logistical supplies. 

Third, currently in Sahel, over 25 million people remain in dire need of urgent humanitarian assistance, with more than 32 million facing the risk of food insecurity. However, external assistance to regional countries is decreasing and obtaining foreign credit financing is getting more difficult. The international community, especially developed countries, should maintain their aid levels and implement their commitments through concrete actions. The focus should be on helping regional countries strengthen capacity building for sustainable development and eliminate the root causes of terrorism and violence. China attaches great importance to the challenges posed by climate change to these countries and is concerned about their lack of means and capacity to address these challenges. Developed countries should fulfill their climate financing commitments as soon as possible, settle historical debt, and provide practical help to regional countries to cope with the impact of climate change. 

President, 

Recently after a three year interval, the Council issued a PRST on the situation in the region, fully demonstrating the Council's attention to the issue, which we welcome. China will continue to support the work of the SRSG for West Africa and UNOWAS, deepen cooperation with regional countries in all areas, and contribute to promoting peace and stability in the region.

Thank you, President.