Sierra Leone At The UN Security Council Briefing On Cooperation Between The Security Council And The League Of Arab States

STATEMENT BY
H.E. DR. MICHAEL IMRAN KANU
AMBASSADOR/PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE

Mr. President,

1. I thank you Mr. President, Excellency Minister Ahmed Attaf, for convening this important meeting today. This discussion on the cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States is timely and crucial, as it directly addresses the peace and security challenges we face in the Middle East and North Africa.
2. I also thank ASG Khaled Khiari, for his insightful briefing. I warmly welcome His Excellency Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the Arab League, to this meeting, recognizing the critical role the League continues to play in addressing regional crises. I thank you for your briefing, Excellency. I welcome the participation of the Representative of Egypt to today’s meeting.
3. Sierra Leone reaffirms its belief that the cooperation between the UN and regional organizations such as the League of Arab States is fundamental to addressing global peace and security challenges. In particular, Chapter VIII (8) of the UN Charter underscores the importance of regional arrangements in the maintenance of peace and security, and extremely significant to improve the Charter’s collective security scheme.
4. The League of Arab States, with its intimate understanding of the sociopolitical dynamics of the Arab region, is uniquely positioned to assist in the prevention and resolution of conflicts in this region. By continuing to strengthen its partnership with the UN, especially with the Security Council, we can achieve substantial progress in resolving the ongoing crises that threaten the stability of the Middle East.
5. Sierra Leone wishes to highlight the importance of the Arab League in several current crises that require urgent international attention: Sudan, Gaza, Yemen, Libya, Syria, and Lebanon.
6. In Sudan, the ongoing conflict has caused devastating humanitarian consequences. We commend the League of Arab States for its active engagement and partnership in facilitating humanitarian access and promoting dialogue toward a peaceful resolution. We urge the Arab League to continue using its influence to support a mediated settlement, through the leadership of the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy on Sudan, Mr. Ramtane Lamamra, and alongside the African Union, through the Expanded Mechanism for Sudan.
7. Regarding the conflict in the Gaza Strip, while we welcome the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the humanitarian situation remains dire. The destruction of infrastructure in Gaza is catastrophic, and the Palestinian civilians continue to suffer. It is crucial that the Arab League and the Security Council as well as other UN agencies work closely together to expedite humanitarian assistance and support the rebuilding efforts. The continuation of the ceasefire is essential for maintaining peace, and we urge the Arab League to leverage its influence to ensure its sustainability.
8. Sierra Leone also sees the ceasefire in Gaza as a potential catalyst for a renewed focus on the peace process in Yemen. The escalation of attacks from the Houthis against Israel and the Red Sea region has had serious implications for broader regional stability. We encourage the Arab League to engage with the Security Council and the UN Secretary-General Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grubdberg, to achieve a sustainable peace in Yemen and to prevent the spread of conflict beyond its borders.
9. In Libya, we call on the League of Arab States to continue its support for the UN Mission in Libya to ensure that a peaceful, free, and fair election process is held. The Libyan people have long yearned for stability, and a unified approach by the Arab League, the African Union and the UN is key to facilitating national reconciliation integration and rebuilding.
10. For Syria, with the recent shifts in the political landscape, there is an opportunity to move towards a more inclusive political transition. However, as the UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, has noted, the conflict is far from over, and the humanitarian needs are urgent. Sierra Leone believes that the League of Arab States, in partnership with the Security Council, must play a decisive role in addressing these challenges and preventing a relapse into full-scale conflict.
11. In Lebanon, we welcome the ceasefire commitment agreement between Israel and Lebanon and call for the full implementation of SCR 1701. We welcome the political progress and support the mandate of UNIFIL.

Mr. President,

13. The Middle East faces challenges that reverberate beyond its borders, with far-reaching consequences for global peace and security. The League of Arab States, with its expertise and regional influence, is central to addressing these crises. We are confident that enhanced collaboration between the Arab League and the Security Council can yield effective solutions to these pressing issues. We thank our briefers for highlighting ongoing engagements between the UN and the League.
14. To better synchronize efforts, the Security Council and the League of Arab States can engage in more frequent and structured dialogue, ensuring that the Arab League’s regional knowledge and sensitivities, as well as the Security Council’s global mandate are effectively combined.
15. A coordinating mechanism can assist to focus the two bodies on the most pressing regional crises, for informed and timely Security Council interventions and decisions. With consent of the participation states, a focus on developing early warning systems, supported by joint analysis teams, to monitor emerging threats would enable both organizations to act swiftly in addressing potential crises before they escalate.
16. The overarching outcome of the prevention and resolution of conflicts in the Arab region could be achieved inter alia, through the alignment of the mandates of designated UN representatives for conflict situations in the Arab region and conflict context specific mission objectives of the Arab League.

16. Convening periodic consultations between the two bodies and organizing joint periodic capacity building sessions, as well as adopting joint resolutions and (or) communiqués on issues of mutual interest and ongoing cooperation framework and coordinating efforts between the UN and the League of Arab States and other partners.
17. In conclusion, President, Sierra Leone calls for increased engagement between the League of Arab States and the United Nations, particularly through the Security Council, as a matter of importance. We must build on the progress made and continue to work together to address conflicts in the Arab region in a comprehensive and strategic manner.
18. We also recognize the need to adopt both immediate and long-term strategies for conflict resolution, humanitarian assistance, and civilian protection. A robust framework for addressing the spillover effects of regional conflicts must be developed, and practical steps be taken to enhance joint capacity for conflict prevention and resolution.
19. We congratulate the League of Arab States on the auspicious 80^th

I thank you.