West African insecurity problems need regional solutions, UN says12 November – Movement of combatants and weapons across borders makes insecurity a major problem that needs a regional solution in West Africa, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan's envoy for the region said today.
As he prepared to attend the first high-level meeting of heads of the UN's West African peacekeeping missions on Friday, Special Representative Ahmedou Ould Abdallah said, "Insecurity has become widespread in West Africa and is one of the most critical cross-border issues in the sub-region."
The elements of insecurity included cross-border movements of combatants, mercenaries, child soldiers and small arms, as well as a culture of impunity for offenders, Mr. Ould Abdallah said.
Roadblocks and health and environment issues were among the other cross-border problems, he said.
"These are all regional problems that need a regional approach to be addressed effectively" and his office in Dakar has prepared proposals to remedy these situations, he added. "The response must be to ensure the well-being, prosperity and overall security of the populations of West Africa."
The meeting in Freetown, Sierra Leone, will include heads of the UN missions in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire and Guinea-Bissau.
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