The situation in the Sahel region has recently been rapidly deteriorating. Around 1 million people across the region have become internally displaced with terrorist groups stepping up their attacks. This will likely generate a large-scale humanitarian crisis.
L. Linkevičius underlined the importance of stability in the Sahel region for Europe and welcomed the new initiative to establish the Partnership for Security and Stability in the Sahel. Lithuania’s Foreign Minister also stressed that, in order to ensure effective security in the Sahel, there was a need to improve the synergy among actions and programmes of all countries operating in the region, international organizations and donors, as well as an effective exchange of information and coordination of actions.
Lithuania remains committed to continuing its contribution to the international community’s efforts to ensure security in the Sahel region. The Lithuanian troops are currently serving with the MINUSMA mission in Mali and the EU Training Mission in Mali.
The ministerial meeting of the International Coalition for the Sahel was held in a plenary format by videoconference. The high-level event was initiated by France and attended by representatives from more than 60 countries and international organizations, including Foreign Ministers of most EU member states, representatives from the UN, the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Sahel countries, as well as the U.S., the United Kingdom, Norway, and other partners.
