Although West Africa has made strides towards shoring up peace, the region must overcome such obstacles as youth unemployment, rapid urbanization and irregular migration, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a new report made public on Thursday.
"Significant progress has been made in West Africa in the consolidation of peace and democratic governance," he wrote in the report, highlighting the peaceful elections that have been organized and increased support for peace building efforts.
However, he noted that the region faces "many challenges" including social and economic crises, trafficking in drugs and people and insecurity in the Sahelian band.
For long-term stabilization to take hold, the United Nations and the whole international community must support peace building in West African nations, many of which are fragile and susceptible to renewed fighting, he stated.
"A greater role for a coherent and integrated United Nations is being sought across the sub-region for maximized results and greater impact in addressing the many challenges at hand," said Pan.
To prevent West African nations from sliding back into war, the UN Office for West Africa must boost its cooperation with the Economic Community of West African States and other groups to augment early warning and other conflict-prevention systems, Ban suggested.
"Cross-border threats to peace and stability in the sub-region will require renewed awareness-raising efforts," he said.
Source:Xinhua
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