A Chinese envoy to the United Nations on Tuesday called on the international community to help West Africa and the Sahel region enhance their independent counter-terrorism capabilities, build joint security defenses, and promote sustainable development.
Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, made the statement at the U.N. Security Council's open debate on peace consolidation in West Africa and the Sahel region, held at the U.N. headquarters in New York.
In Geng's address, he stated that facing the increasingly severe counter-terrorism situation, West African and Sahel countries must enhance their counter-terrorism capabilities and build professional, efficient, and well-equipped security forces. The international community should support mechanisms such as ECOWAS, the Sahel States Confederation, and multinational joint task forces to deepen cooperation, with the enhancement of coordination in joint military operations, border patrols, and material escorts to form synergy, Geng said.
He reiterated support for "African solutions to African problems," expressing expectation for full implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 2719 to provide sustainable funding for African Union-led peacekeeping operations.
Geng also noted that weak economic foundations and inadequate livelihood security in some West African and Sahel countries create space for terrorist organizations to spread extremist ideologies and recruit members.
"For a long time, China has supported capacity building and counter-terrorism operations in West Africa and Sahel countries through the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the China-U.N. Peace and Development Fund, which has been widely welcomed by countries in the region. Guided by the Global Security Initiative and Global Development Initiative, China will work with the rest of the international community to strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation in West Africa and the Sahel region, making greater contributions to maintaining peace and security in this region and throughout Africa," he said.
The security situation in West Africa and the Sahel region is deteriorating, according to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in his address.
According to the 2025 Global Terrorism Index (GTI), five of the ten countries most affected by terrorism are located in the Sahel region, which accounts for 19 percent of global terrorist incidents and over half of related deaths worldwide.
To prevent further deterioration, the international community must strengthen efforts in three areas -- rebuilding regional cooperation mechanisms, increasing humanitarian investment, and advancing sustainable development, said Guterres.
China calls for enhanced anti-terror capacity in West Africa, Sahel
