S/PV.8129 Security Council

On behalf of the members of the Security Council, I should like to condemn in the strongest terms the outrageous, deadly and totally unacceptable attack on United Nations peacekeepers that occurred last night in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We understand that at least 14 Tanzanian peacekeepers were killed and that more than 50 others were injured. The members of the Security Council convey their deepest condolences to the families of the victims and to the people and the Government of Tanzania. Those brave peacekeepers were operating under a mandate given by the Council in order to provide a more secure future for the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We commemorate their ultimate sacrifice in the cause of peace. I now invite the members of the Security Council to observe a minute of silence in honour of those killed.

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representatives of Mali and Mauritania to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item of its agenda. Members of the Council have before them document S/2017/1022, which contains the text of a draft resolution submitted by France. The Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now.

The draft resolution received 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 2391 (2017). I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements following the voting.

Allow me to begin by saying how much our thoughts today are with all of the Tanzanian Blue Helmets killed as they carried out their duties in the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as with all of the families and friends of those who lost their lives while serving the United Nations. On behalf of France, I would like once again to express our most sincere condolences, sympathy and deep sadness to the Government and the people of Tanzania. France welcomes the unanimous adoption of resolution 2391 (2017), which provides operational and logistical support from the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) to the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel (G-5 Sahel). Thanks to this resolution, the security forces of the G-5 Sahel countries operating in Mali as part of the Joint Force will soon be able to enjoy the support of MINUSMA in terms of supplies, medical evacuation and engineering support. That support will play a crucial role in terms of strengthening the effectiveness and scope of the Joint Force’s operations, as it will be provided directly on the ground as opposed by way of bilateral financing. It will meet the interests of MINUSMA, which has everything to gain from a Joint Force that is equipped to achieve the goals it has set for itself. It will be fully financed by international voluntary contributions and centred around a mechanism under the European Union. It will be set up according to modalities that ensure that there is no negative impact on MINUSMA’s capacity to implement its mandate and to provide security for its staff — a crucial point for us. It is important for the technical agreement between the G-5, the United Nations and the European Union, on which that support is to be based, be concluded as soon as possible. I am delighted to commend all of those Ambassadors who are here representing the G-5 Sahel countries. They are both colleagues and friends. The resolution that we have just adopted, however, does not just focus on creating an operational link between the G-5 Sahel Joint Force and MINUSMA. In a kind of extension of resolution 2359 (2017), this new resolution makes significant progress in five other areas. First, it once again clearly and strongly welcomes the determination of the G-5 countries to pool their efforts to combat the terrorist threat. Resolution 2391 (2017) recognizes the significant progress that has been made in that area in just a few months, and urges everybody to shoulder their responsibility so that the Joint Force reaches full operational capacity as soon as possible. That is decisive for the next step. Secondly, this resolution recognizes the authorization that the Joint Force enjoys based on the mandate granted by the African Union. It encourages the G-5 Sahel to continue its efforts integrate its initiatives into its regional and international environment by holding regular meetings of the support group. Thirdly, it endorses the role played by the European Union in coordinating international contributions at the request of the G-5 Sahel States. Fourthly, it notes that the G-5 Joint Force will be a success only if there are accompanying development efforts on the ground and respect for fundamental human rights. It calls on the G-5 States to create an appropriate environment to that end, and calls upon all G-5 Sahel partners, first and foremost the United Nations, to support its implementation. Fifthly, the resolution strongly underscores that there can be no lasting stability in the Sahel without the full and effective implementation of the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali. It also clearly reminds all Malian parties of their responsibilities vis-à-vis the sanctions regime put in place pursuant to resolution 2374 (2017). Resolution 2391 (2017) therefore represents a genuine and important new phase in terms of the Security Council’s support for the G-5 Sahel. It is indeed a turning point, as we are together opening up a new avenue for United Nations support for the G-5 Sahel Joint Force, which is a crucial aspect of its effectiveness on the ground. Just a few months ago, the idea that the Council could reach agreement on supporting MINUSMA by providing means to support the Joint Force was impossible to envisage. Today’s outcome has been possible thanks to the fact that we have worked extremely hard over recent weeks — on the basis of the report of the Secretary-General (S/2017/869), the Council’s mission to the Sahel and the ministerial meeting held in October — with a view to identifying the elements of an eventual consensus based on an incremental and cooperative approach. I would like to commend all our teams, including my own, which worked doggedly and with great determination over many weeks. This resolution therefore is not only a success for the G-5 Sahel Joint Force but also for the Security Council, which has shown its ability to provide a substantive response to one of the main threats to international peace and security in the world today. It demonstrates the consensus that now exists around this table on the importance of the international community’s support to African countries that are coming together to combat terrorism. This is a cause in which France believes very strongly, and one that we will continue to support very energetically in New York and elsewhere. Once again, I would like to thank all Security Council delegations for their commitment. In particular, I would like to thank my colleague and American friend Ambassador Nikki Hailey, with whom we had a frank and, I believe, constructive dialogue throughout the entire negotiation process. This resolution favourably positions us together so as to move ahead on the important path that remains before us. The technical agreement mechanism, which became necessary because of constraints imposed on the Council today, is not the one that we initially favoured. However, it nevertheless constitutes a solid foundation for making further progress based on the Secretary- General’s future semi-annual reports, provided that the G-5 Sahel States continue to take the necessary steps to move towards the full operationalization of the Joint Force and take advantage of the support already provided to them so as to record their first successes on the ground. More than ever, France believes that the United Nations has a central role to play with regard to international support for the Joint Force, first and foremost owing to our firm commitment to multilateralism and the centrality of the United Nations in that regard, as well as for the sake of effectiveness, because we believe that the United Nations provides us with an existing functional framework to coordinate our work in the most rational way possible. The security threat facing the Sahel concerns us all owing to its implications for international peace and security. The G-5 Sahel Joint Force is the right response to that threat. It is therefore essential that the G-5 Sahel and the international community be able to take advantage of that opportunity together. Within the Council, our responsibility is to provide the G-5 Sahel Joint Force support commensurate with the stakes involved. We have taken an important step in that direction today, and we must continue to move forward during this demanding phase united and resolutely, with the same ambitious spirit of consensus that enabled us to achieve today’s outcome together. Members can count on France’s commitment in that regard. My country will remain ready at all levels to support the G-5 Sahel, and, next week, we will host a high-level meeting aimed at moving forward the operationalization of the Force and the implementation of its support.

I would like to begin today by expressing our heartfelt condolences to the families of the 14 Tanzanian peacekeepers who were killed and the more than 40 wounded in last night’s attack in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We are horrified by that cowardly attack on those who were sent to protect the most vulnerable. Terrorism and violent extremism exact a tremendous human toll every day. There is not a member nation of the Security Council that has not been affected. In the Sahel, violent extremists  — often in league with transnational organized criminal networks  — attack civilians and peacekeepers with deadly impact that is felt throughout and beyond the region. The setting up of the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel (G-5 Sahel) by member States committed to security in the region shows real responsiveness to that threat. Continued African leadership is vital in that long-term effort, and the United States will continue to look for ways to promote economic resilience and civilian security through support for the Joint Force and other G-5 Sahel initiatives. By adopting resolution 2391 (2017), the Security Council is also expressing its support for the G-5 Sahel Joint Force by encouraging a technical agreement between the United Nations and the G-5 Sahel. That will provide some immediate logistical support on a reimbursable basis. We wish to thank members of the Council for their cooperation, especially France, with whom we have worked closely during these past months. The creativity and innovation in the text of the resolution shows what is possible in the spirit of cooperation on shared objectives. The international community’s support for the people of the G-5 Sahel member States and the G-5 Sahel Joint Force is undeniable and growing. The G-5 Sahel has numerous partners in its effort to combat terrorism and violent extremism. The United States has pledged $60 million, thereby joining the European Union, France, Saudi Arabia and others in supporting the G-5 Sahel. We believe that such examples of expansive international support show the best path forward for future assistance to the G-5 Sahel’s initiative. We feel that the Council’s encouragement of a technical agreement is the full extent of any support role that the United Nations should play outside of continued coordination and technical assistance on a voluntary basis. We must also not lose sight of the need to ensure that the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali has the troops and capabilities that it needs to succeed. The current capacity of the Mission in terms of its manpower and operational capabilities is not acceptable. It hampers the Mission’s ability to deliver on its own mandate, and it will hamper its ability to provide support for the Joint Force within the terms envisioned by resolution 2391 (2017). In the longer-term, the G-5 Sahel must do a better job in facilitating humanitarian and development operations to help counter violent extremism and re-establish State control. To be effective, the G-5 Sahel must respect human rights, hold its forces accountable and consult with local communities, while being responsive to their concerns. As the Joint Force works to ensure civilian security in the execution of its duties, there will be a growing list of G-5 Sahel partners to help the Force work towards self-sufficiency. We look forward to continuing our discussions on improving the peacekeeping Mission in Mali. We also welcome the opportunity to work with the Malian parties to make progress on implementing the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali, and address other remaining challenges in the country.

At the outset, I join other delegations in expressing our deepest condolences to the people and the Government of the brotherly nation of Tanzania following the loss of peacekeepers’ lives, who were carrying out their duty in maintaining peace and security in the brotherly country of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Today the Security Council adopted resolution 2391 (2017), the second of its kind, on the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel (G-5 Sahel), which demonstrates the importance that the Council accords to the issue, given the very clear links between security and stability in the Sahel and their effects on peace and stability in neighbouring regions. In that regard, I would like to emphasize the following. The G-5 Sahel Joint Force, which began as a voluntary and ambitious initiative launched by countries of the region with the support of the African Union, and was welcomed by the Security Council, constitutes the best long-term option. It also plays a complementary role alongside the French forces of Operation Barkhane and those of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), aimed at re-establishing stability and combating transnational crime and terrorism. Secondly, the role of the Joint Force is not limited to the borders of its member States. We must understand that this is one of the most challenging fronts within the context of the global effort to counter terrorism today, which is a phenomenon that knows no borders or obstacles. Groups of thugs are active in the Sahel, Libya, the Lake Chad basin and other regions throughout the world. Those groups work towards establishing a continuum among themselves. It is therefore crucial that the international community support the work and sacrifices of the Joint Force at the military level within the framework of a series of measures and programmes so as to address the deep-rooted causes of the crisis in the region. In that regard, we reiterate our support for revitalizing the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel. Thirdly, Egypt joined the consensus adoption of resolution 2391 (2017) as part of our unconditional support for the countries of the region and their interests. Nevertheless, we would like to express our disappointment with regard to the Council’s failure to address expectations relating to the manner, scope and means of providing that support through the mechanism so as to meet the genuine needs of the Force with clear deadlines, thereby enabling it to begin its deployment effectively. Fourthly, it is important that the Secretariat take all the necessary measures, in cooperation with MINUSMA, to provide the means required for the Joint Force to be able to discharge its mandate and to ensure the security of its staff, as well as so that MINUSMA can employ its resources to provide the necessary support to the Joint Force under the terms of the resolution. Finally, Egypt believes that, in future, the Security Council should periodically review the support provided to the Joint Force, given the moral, political and legal responsibility of the Security Council by virtue of the Charter of the United Nations, by taking the necessary steps to maintain international peace and security, to review what has been done and to move forward by giving messages of moral support. It is also necessary to review the requirements in the future in order to provide additional implementation mechanisms, in particular sustainable and predictable funding so that the Force can act as planned. In conclusion, Egypt reaffirms that it will spare no effort to support the brotherly nations in the region, both within the Peace and Security Council of the African Union and bilaterally.

Let me start by condemning the horrific attack on peacekeepers and host-country troops in the Democratic Republic of the Congo yesterday and by offering my sincere condolences to Tanzania and to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is truly shocking that peacekeepers are targeted in that way. Our thoughts are with the families and the friends of the victims and with the injured, to whom we wish a speedy recovery. We are here today to discuss the humanitarian and security crises in Mali and the Sahel region, which continue to be of deep concern to us and have been discussed by the Security Council many times in the past. Conflict continues to blight the lives of citizens in Mali and the Sahel, and terrorist organizations, including those benefiting from transnational organized cirme, persist in their threats to peace and security in the region. In June, in resolution 2359 (2017), we welcomed the deployment of the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel (G-5 Sahel) throughout the territories of its contributing countries. We applaud the rapid and effective progress that has been made to make that Force a reality, which members saw for themselves on the ground earlier this year, while recognizing the important role that international support can play in strengthening the Force to its full capacity. In Mali, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) is doing dangerous and important work and faces pressing challenges. But where conflict and terrorism seek to divide us, it is right that we all work together and support each other where we can. That is why we voted in favour of resolution 2391 (2017). It sets out a clear framework for the support of the international community to the G-5 Sahel Joint Force, through MINUSMA, and a clear mechanism for international donations to support that important work. We welcome the pledges already made by international donors, as well as the role of the European Union in ensuring the effective distribution of that support. We are looking at where we can best lend our support as a matter of priority. We urge the G-5 Sahel States to seize the opportunity presented by those offers of support in order to get the Joint Force up to full capacity as quickly as possible. We also strongly encourage those States to take advantage of the technical expertise available to them, which would positively contribute to their work on implementing a robust human rights compliance framework. We commend the Secretariat, under the leadership of Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, for its efforts to bring coherence and an overarching strategy to the overlapping work of the various development agencies on the ground. Any progress in security will be sustained only if backed by the delivery of services to populations. Finally, we call on all our Malian friends and partners to redouble their efforts to implement the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali, which is an imperative step in the pursuit of lasting peace and security in the Sahel.

We endorse the words of sympathy and condolence that have been expressed over the deaths of the Tanzanian peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We express our condolences to all the relatives and friends of the people of Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo who died and wish the injured a speedy recovery. The Russian delegation voted in favour of resolution 2391 (2017), on the provision of technical and material support to the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel because of the importance of the international community providing assistance to that regional alliance. The Joint Force, approved under resolution 2359 (2017), provides an appropriate response to the challenges in the Sahel region in line with the principle that African problems requires African soluitions. We are convinced that that is the only way to achieve lasting peace in Africa. We believe that it is important to assist the Joint Force, since it will not only face counter-terrorism challenges but also seek to eradicate cross-border criminal groups that fuel terrorism. We welcome the rapid deployment of the Joint Force on the ground and the fact that the first operation has taken place. We encourage the strengthened cooperation among the participants in the Joint Force on the future deployment of troops in line with the agreed planning. We would once again underscore that only the truly coordinated efforts of all members of the regional Sahel group, without exception, can lead to effective results. In conclusion, we would like to point out that, in this era of globalization, terrorism has become global in nature. That threat can be eradicated only by presenting the broadest possible front, for which Russia has long been calling. We will continue to provide concrete assistance to the people of the Sahel through our bilateral channels.

Let me also begin by expressing our outrage at last night’s attack on United Nations peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We offer our deepest condolences to the familiies of the victims and to the Government and the people of Tanzania. That deliberate attack constitutes a war crime and should be condemned in the strongest terms. Perpetrators must be brought to justice. Indeed, it is a sad day for the United Nations family and for United Nations peacekeeping. Sweden voted in favour of resolution 2391 (2017) because the endeavours for peace, development and security in the region by the countries of the Group of Five for the Sahel deserve our full support. In order to achieve sustainable peace and stability in the Sahel, our primary focus must remain on addressing the root causes of instability. Any security initiative in and for the region must therefore be part of a holistic approach that in particular encompasses governance and development aspects. As such, the Joint Force needs to be framed within, and accountable to, a broader political framework. Coordination with the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel and other regional initiatives and partners, such as the African Union, will be important. Today’s resolution further states that United Nations support to the Joint Force through the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) must not affect the Mission’s capacity to implement its mandate and its strategic priorities. In that regard, we look forward to the follow-up reporting, as stipulated by the resolution. The interlinkage between security, human rights and development has been demonstrated on many occasions. Today’s resolution calls for the establishment of a robust human rights and international humanitarian law compliance framework and calls on the United Nations, as well as partners, to support its implementation. That is paramount if the Joint Force is to be successful in its fight against terrorism, as is strict compliance with the human rights due diligence policy. Sweden is ready to contribute to the establishment of the compliance framework, in addition to our existing support to the Force through the European Union (EU). We believe that the Security Council’s repeated calls for regional ownership, our expectations for the Force and our demand for accountability should be matched with adequate resources and support. In this regard, it is also our hope that the EU-coordinated mechanism envisaged for channelling voluntary contributions to the Joint Force and ensuring full financial reimbursements to MINUSMA, in close coordination with other donors, will guarantee reliable and consistent funding streams. We look forward to continued discussions on this matter. Let me conclude by reiterating that the full inclusive and effective implementation of the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali, including by ensuring the participation of women, must remain a priority. The peace agreement is our best chance at preventing further spread of instability and building sustained peace.

I join my colleagues in expressing the sincere condolences of the Italian Government to the victims’ families and the concerned Government over the loss of 14 Tanzanian Blue Helmets in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Italy welcomes the unanimous adoption of resolution 2391 (2017). At the outset, I wish to thank the French delegation for its tireless efforts which enabled the Council to achieve this significant outcome. Throughout this year in this Chamber, Italy has stressed on numerous occasions that the Sahel is a region facing serious challenges to its development and security, such as terrorism, illegal trafficking of human beings and other forms of trafficking and transnational organized crime. This is a complex situation, which the Council itself witnessed during its recent visit in October and which was highlighted in the open debate of 30 October held during the French presidency (see S/PV.8080). During our presidency in November, in keeping with the French presidency, we evoked the connection between the challenges in the Sahel and the instability in the Mediterranean region. In doing so, we hope to have contributed to the debate on the Sahel region — a debate which, with this resolution, has been enhanced by another important step. There are four issues that Italy has always identified as priorities to ensure that the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel (G-5 Sahel) contributes to peace and stability in the Sahel. First, there must be coordination and cooperation between the G-5 Sahel Force and the initiatives already under way in the region, such as the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali and the missions of the European Union. Secondly, a clear political strategy, such as the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel, is essential to addressing the multifaceted problems of the region. Thirdly, all operations carried out by the G-5 Force or in support of it must take place within an effective framework of respect for human rights. Finally, the United Nations must support African peace operations at the political and financial levels. These four elements are in this text and form the basis of our support for the resolution. They are four elements that the Council has the obligation to continue developing in the coming months. With this resolution, we recognize once again the efforts of the G-5 countries and encourage the international community to support their commitment. Italy will continue to do so bilaterally and multilaterally as part of our work at the United Nations, in coordination with the African Union and within the European Union. In this respect, we recognize the role that the resolution assigns to the European Union, and we are ready to do our part to ensure that the discussions we will have in Brussels with other Member States on the ways to implement that role take the aspirations of the countries of the region and the G-5 countries into account.

China offers its sympathy and deep condolences to the bereaved families and the Governments of Tanazania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo over the heavy casualities suffered by the personnel of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in an attack against it. The current security situation in the Sahel region is severe. The countries of the Group of Five for the Sahel (G-5 Sahel) have decided to establish a Joint Force to address regional security challenges on their own. This reflects the self-reliance, unity and cooperation of African countries and is an important contribution to peace and security in Africa and the world at large. At the same time, the Sahel G-5 Force is facing such difficulties as insufficient financial resources, technology and equipment, and needs the international community’s support. Resolution 2391 (2017), which was just adopted by the Council, will facilitate the support of the United Nations and the international community to the Force. China therefore voted in favour of the resolution. China calls on the Security Council to fully respect and enable African ownership in seeking African solutions to African problem, to support the efforts of Sahel countries in maintaining regional peace and security, and to encourage the United Nations and the international community to provide the G-5 Sahel Joint Force with the necessary support, including financial resources. China is ready to join the international community in playing a constructive role towards achieving peace, stability and development in the Sahel and on the African continent.

We express our solidarity with the people and the Government of Tanzania and condemn in the strongest terms the attack that caused the deaths of so many Tanzanian peacekeepers of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the wounding of even more. Our thoughts are with the families of those who lost loved ones. We wish a speedy recovery to the 53 who were injured. We welcome the unanimous adoption of resolution 2391 (2017) in support of the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel (G-5 Sahel). We thank France, as the penholder, for facilitating the negotiation on the draft resolution, as well as for its unwavering commitment in support of the Force. No doubt, the support of the Council, and indeed the rest of the international community, is vital to the ongoing fight being waged by G-5 Sahel countries against terrorism and other transnational organized crimes. The deployment of the 5,000-strong force will be highly instrumental in neutralizing armed terrorist groups and criminal networks operating in the region. It will also support the operational objectives of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali, which is the epicentre of the peace and security challenge in the region. Even though the resolution does not necessarily live up to the expectations we had, we nonetheless appreciate the spirit of compromise demonstrated by Member States, particularly the United States, with a view to achieving the necessary consensus, but we sincerely hope that upon appropriate evaluation of the performance of the Force, the Security Council will be able to provide enhanced support in due course. The adoption of the resolution also could not be more timely and relevant in the light of the upcoming international pledging conference in support of the G-5 States to be held in Brussels next week. We hope that the conference will enable international and regional partners to make commitments in support of the G-5 Sahel Joint Force.

I join other colleagues in expressing our condolences and sympathy to the authorities and the people of the United Republic of Tanzania for the tragic deaths of the 14 Tanzanian Blue Helmets who were killed while carrying out their duties in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Senegal welcomes the Council’s unanimous adoption today of resolution 2391 (2017) on the Group of Five for the Sahel (G-5 Sahel) Joint Force. We would like to thank France, which showed perseverance, openness and skill as the penholder. The resolution undoubtedly represents another significant source of support for the G-5 Sahel Joint Force, whose establishment the Security Council already welcomed in resolution 2359 (2017). For it must be said again and again that the G-5 Sahel Joint Force has courageously taken it upon itself the task of resolutely tackling a regional manifestation of the global problem of terrorism and violent extremism. We have seen that the G-5 Sahel’s commitment has facilitated other initiatives on behalf of and together with the Sahel. The financing mechanism proposed in resolution 2391 (2017) is a decisive step in the right direction. Through our colleagues the Permanent Representatives of Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, the Niger and Chad, who are here today, I would like to humbly offer Senegal’s gratitude for the courageous commitment of the Governments of the brotherly countries that are the G-5 Sahel’s neighbours in helping to tackle the numerous scourges afflicting the Sahel region, such as terrorism, transnational organized crime and trafficking in all its forms, including in human beings — a commitment they decided to go ahead with irrespective of the human, material and financial costs. The Joint Force’s first operation, Hawbi, conducted in the central sector, was a demonstration of the G-5 Sahel’s determination and of the new level of effectiveness that the Force has reached in its operationalization. The international community should therefore help the Force to reach full capacity on both the political and morale fronts, particularly since it is working and coordinating closely with the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali. The countries of the Sahel-Saharan region are linked by a common destiny to those of the G-5 Sahel, with which they share extensive land and sea borders. Senegal would like to thank all who have already shown their support. We call for our bilateral and multilateral partners to show further active generosity and solidarity through the mechanism provided for in resolution 2391 (2017), and especially by showing major and generous support at the donor conferences to beheld in Paris and Brussels next week.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Japan. Japan welcomes the Council’s unanimous adoption today of resolution 2391 (2017). I pay tribute to France’s efforts in bringing our partners together to work for the restoration of peace and stability in Mali and the Sahel region. Japan supported the resolution because we recognize that Mali needs support if it is to speedily deliver on the remaining key provisions of the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali. It is a critical time for the country, and resolution 2391 (2017) recognizes that. It provides innovative arrangements for United Nations support to the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel (G-5 Sahel) through the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali by using a European Union-coordinated financing mechanism. The success of the efforts of the G-5 Sahel, including those made through this arrangement, requires the support of international communities. We would like to call on our international partners to mobilize efforts that support the G-5 Sahel States in implementing the new resolution. I would like to conclude by saying that Japan underlines the importance of addressing the drivers of violent extremism in the Sahel. The consequences and impact of the activities of the terrorist organizations present there, including those that benefit from transnational organized crime in Mali and the Sahel, cannot be solved by security-focused intervention alone. We strongly believe that it is becoming ever- more crucial to ensure that the response to the violent extremism in the Sahel is a comprehensive one. The growing insecurity in central Mali and its border areas requires more than simply containing the violence. We must build a resilient society and institutions that ensure human security. Japan will continue to work closely with the G-5 Sahel States, the United Nations and our international partners in order to make progress towards achieving security and stability in Mali and the Sahel. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. I now give the floor to the representative of Mali.

I would like to begin by adding the voice of the countries of the Group of Five for the Sahel (G-5 Sahel) to the Council’s condemnation today of the cowardly and barbaric attack on the Blue Helmets serving the cause of peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We offer our heartfelt condolences to the brotherly Governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania and wish the wounded a speedy recovery. On behalf of the Ambassadors of the member States of the G-5 Sahel who are here today, I would first like to express our gratitude to you, Mr. President, for giving us the opportunity to participate in this meeting devoted to the Council’s second adoption, in less than six months, of a resolution (resolution 2391 (2017)) on the G-5 Sahel Joint Force, and which I should recall is endorsed by the African Union. The member States of the G-5 Sahel would also like to congratulate you, Sir, on your beautiful country of Japan’s assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for this month. We also take this opportunity to commend the remarkable work done by our dear friend Ambassador Sebastiano Cardi and his delegation during Italy’s presidency last month. Before going any further, I would also like to take this opportunity to extend our sincere thanks to the non-permanent members of the Council whose term ends at the end of this month. They should be proud of the enormous contributions that their countries have made to international peace and security. I would once again like to convey to Council members the thanks of Mr. Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, President of the Republic of Mali and President-in-Office of the G-5 Sahel, on behalf of his peers from Burkina Faso, Mauritania, the Niger and Chad, for the important unanimous decision the Council has just made. We welcome the adoption of resolution 2391 (2017), which is firmly in keeping with the good momentum in the gradual strengthening of international support for the G-5 Sahel Joint Force, though it is true that we would have liked to have seen a much more robust mandate, and one that was established under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, as well as much more extensive United Nations support for the Force in terms of logistics, means of communication, equipment and infrastructure. We would also liked to have seen increased support from the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali for all the deployment sectors of the Joint Force in the east, west and centre of the country, as well as to have received predictable and sustainable funding for the Joint Force, including through the United Nations. However, we have not lost hope. We are very grateful to every member of the Council for the progress that has already been achieved and we have signed on to this positive dynamic, in the hope that our expectations will be gradually met within the framework of the review and periodic assessment clauses provided for in resolution 2391 (2017). Here I would like to thank the French delegation, under the leadership of our dear friend Ambassador François Delattre, for initiating and leading the negotiations on the resolution that the Council has just adopted. On behalf of our leaders and our people, I would also like to express our infinite gratitude to the partner countries and international partner organizations that have already pledged contributions to the Joint Force. I refer in particular to Saudi Arabia, the United States of America, the European Union, France, Germany and Denmark. I also appeal to our other bilateral and multilateral partners to mobilize to assist in the effective and rapid operationalization of the Joint Force.

I now give the floor to the representative of Mauritania.

On behalf of Mauritania, allow me in turn to offer our deep condolences to the families of the Blue Helmets killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo and to all those who defend the values of peacekeeping. This is also an opportune moment for my country to extend our thanks to the highest authorities of the United Nations for their compassion and solidarity following the death of a Mauritanian soldier deployed to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic. We also thank France for its expression of solidarity and compassion. It is with great pleasure that I address the Council today. On behalf of my country, and particularly on behalf of the President of the Republic, I thank members for the very special interest that the United Nations has shown in the Group of Five for the Sahel (G-5 Sahel), comprised of Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, the Niger and Chad. There is no proof more eloquent of that interest  — in addition to resolution 2359 (2017) — than the October visit conducted by Security Council members to the G-5 Sahel region, including Mali, Mauritania and Burkina Faso, to assess first hand the nature of the terrorist threat and the feasibility of the Priority Investment Programme in order to support both the operationalization of the Joint Force of the G-5 Sahel and development issues in that region, where the terrorist threat persists. We salute the efforts of the co-leaders of the mission, namely, France, Italy and Ethiopia. I reaffirm the deep gratitude of my country to the United Nations for its commitment to peace, security and development in the Sahel region. My country also seizes this opportunity to recognize the efforts of our bilateral and multilateral partners in support of the G-5 Sahel, including France, a friendly country whose long-standing, significant and exceptional efforts in favour of peace and stability in the region we have always appreciated. Nor can we forget the efforts of the European Union, the African Union, the United States of America and the alliance of Saudi Arabia, Denmark and Germany, which are also committed to actively supporting the G-5 Sahel Joint Force. Allow me to reiterate that, today more than ever before, my country is wholeheartedly committed to the spirit and founding principle of the G-5 Sahel. Since February 2014, we have been committed to meeting the peace, security and development challenges in the Sahel region and elsewhere, as evidenced by our participation in the peacekeeping operations of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic. As Council members are aware, from the very outset Mauritania has both understand and appreciated the magnitude of the challenges posed by the terrorist threat in the region. That is why since 2008, we have made the fight against violent extremism, terrorism and the cross-border trafficking of drugs and persons a priority through a multidimensional national strategy to effectively combat such crimes. To that end, and in the light of the commitment of the highest authorities of my country, including the President of the Republic, His Excellency Mr. Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, Mauritania is firmly committed to the principles of the G-5 Sahel Joint Force and recalls the importance and critical nature, today more than ever, of the following three points for a more effective, efficient and effective operationalization of the G-5 Sahel Joint Force. The first is the international legality of the Force based on the express authorization of the Security Council and the mandate it has provided under Chapter VII. Second is the need to secure the adequate and sustainable funding identified by our Heads of State to the tune of €423 million at the start and €115 million per year thereafter. The third is the need to launch offensives throughout the Sahelo-Saharan band. In conclusion, on behalf of my country I once again thank Council members for their interest, as demonstrated by their consensus in making the G-5 Sahel Joint Force a reality.