The West Africa Democracy Radio (WADR), has called for regional cooperation and stronger synergy among governments, security agencies and the citizens to address the ravaging insecurity in the Sahel region.
Mrs Agnes Thomasi, Station Manager, WADR in Dakar, Senegal, stated this in Abuja on Thursday, during a public debate on “Security in the Sahel: Effects, Challenges, Strategies and the Way Forward.”
Thomasi explained that the debate was part of activities under the project, “Providing Quality and Relevant Information: A Counter Narrative on the Security Situation in the Sahel”
She said that the debate was the second phase of the WADR project, under Open Society Foundation (OSF), an Africa’s Security and Rights project.
According to her, the goal is to contribute to the process of peace building in Africa.
“Today’s debate provides the opportunity for in-depth discussions on the security situation in our region under our Security and Rights project.
“We implemented the first phase of the project in 2022 with focus on the governance aspect of security in Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali and Nigeria.
“This debate, being the second phase, also focussing on the seam countries, was organised for experts to further look at the various perspectives of insecurity in the Sahel.
“This is with a view to tell our stories and share ideas for possible solutions.”
She said that the debate was apt, considering the current state of insecurity in Nigeria, characterised by terrorism, banditry, kidnaping, and farmers-herders conflict among others
Mr Senator Ireogbu, the Convener of Geopolitics Series, described the Sahel region as a vast area in Africa, stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea.
Ireogbu added that the region served as a transition zone between the Sahara Desert to the north and the more fertile savannas to the south.
Speaking on a topic, “The Current Security Situation in the Sahel: The Nigerian Perspective”, Ireogbu said that the region was facing serious security challenges.
He identified some of the security threats as coups, insurgencies, terrorism, with high birth rates and corruption exacerbating the security challenge, making life exceedingly difficult for the people.
He pointed out that Nigeria, a key player in the Sahel, was being threatened by extremist groups, including armed conflicts and organised crime, such as smuggling and kidnapping.
According to him, understanding and addressing these challenges from a Nigerian perspective is crucial for improving regional stability and security.
He stressed the need for stronger regional cooperation, intelligence sharing, as well as building a resilient local governance and security capacity to curb insecurity.
“Government also need to address poverty, unemployment and strengthen inclusive governance to tackle the menace of insecurity,” he said.
Also speaking, Dr Maji Peters, Country Director, Equal Access International, blamed the rising insecurity in the Sahel on inequality and lack of trust in the governance system.
Peters, who spoke on the topic, “The Modus Operandi on Non-State Armed Groups in the Sahel”, said that non-state armed groups proliferated in the Sahel due to lack of public trust in the government.
“When you don’t believe in the system; when there is so much distrust of the institutions that are supposed to protect and give us guidance, people tend to look for what they can do to help themselves.
“It is within the framework of helping themselves that we are where we are today and unless we do something very intentional, this is just a taste of the real deal,” he said.
Speaking on Military Juntas and Populations: What Place for Dissenting Voices and Pro-Democracy Activists? Mrs Kemi Okenyodo, said that the role of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) as watch dogs, have been compromised.
Okenyodo, the founder and Executive Director, Rule of Law and Empowerment Initiative, said that CSOs have become tribalised, political and donor dependent, making them weak to influence good governance in Nigeria.
She noted that bad governance breeds insecurity and civil society movements were no longer effective in monitoring and reporting bad governance to create the needed change for all.