On Friday 23 February, Prime Minister Māris Kučinskis participated in the Conference on the Sahel in Brussels. The conference focused on security issues.
The conference was attended by over 50 Heads of State and Government representing the European Union (EU), the UN and other international organizations.
Latvia believes that security and stability in the Sahel region are very important preconditions for EU security. The threats that arise in the Sahel region, namely, migration flows, radicalization and terrorist threats, pose a significant threat to the interests of the countries and people of the European Union.
Latvia is convinced that the establishment of joint armed forces of the Sahel Alliance and the five Sahel countries is the best way to ensure increased participation of these countries in guaranteeing their security. Consequently, Latvia supports the establishment of joint armed forces of the Sahel Alliance and the five Sahel countries and the allocation of additional funding from the African Peace Facility to ensure their effective functioning.
Latvia also supports the conclusion of a technical agreement between the EU-UN and the G5 Sahel countries, which would ensure good cooperation between the joint armed forces of the five Sahel countries and the UN Special Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). In addition, it is essential to include in this agreement also support mechanisms for the Sahel region and clear conditions for the involvement of the parties in the provision of financial and material support.
The Sahel Alliance is an initiative of France and Germany in cooperation with the World Bank, the African Development Bank and the United Nations Development Programs. It is open for membership to all EU Member States. The objective of the Sahel Alliance is to increase the effectiveness of development cooperation. In total, more than 5.2 million people in the Sahel region need emergency food aid, and it is expected that this number will increase to 9.6 million people.
The Sahel is a transition zone from the Sahara Desert, north of Sahel, to the South African savanna. It covers an area extending about 1000 km wide band from Senegal to the east.
Andrejs Vaivars
Press Secretary to the Prime Minister
Phone: 29228678
E-mail: Andrejs.Vaivars@mk.gov.lv