New York (UN) – Moroccan minister delegate to the foreign minister, Youssef Amrani, insisted, on Tuesday in New York, that an international solidarity-based action is paramount in the Sahel region and West Africa to apprehend the challenges posed by transnational crime.
“Transnational organized crime can in no way be apprehended by a single state (…), a solidarity-based, concerted action between West African states and the Sahel region is therefore paramount to apprehend the numerous challenges posed by this threat”, Amrani told a UN Security Council debate on the impact of transnational organized crime on peace, security and stability in West Africa and the Sahel region.
According to him, this challenge must be addressed within a broader framework through “trans-regional cooperation and coordination mechanisms.
Regarding the fight against drug trafficking across the Atlantic, Amrani urged cooperation based on the principle of shared responsibility.
“The international community is called on to further support West African and the Sahel countries in implementing their action plans,” he said, adding that the exchange of expertise and know-how in the fight against transnational organized crime is “the most effective way to fight against this scourge.”
Amrani expressed Morocco’s support for a UN integrated approach for the region, an approach which addresses all challenges affecting peace, stability and security and promotes human development in this region.