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Tag: Sa’id Djinnit

  • Boko Haram: UN adopts new strategy to end insurgency

    The United Nations has adopted a new strategy that would assist the Federal Government in the fight against terrorism.

    This was disclosed by the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General for West Africa, Mr. Said Djinnit, while speaking at the opening of the 45th ordinary session of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

    He expressed satisfaction with ECOWAS support for the counter-terrorism efforts of the Federal Government in tackling the Boko Haram scourge.

    According to him, the new strategy, known as integrated support package, aims to complement the ongoing efforts of government.

    He maintained that the current support from ECOWAS was also a reflection of the solidarity of countries in the region and their legitimate concern about the spread of violent extremism.

    He said: “The United Nations has adopted an integrated support package to complement Nigeria’s efforts, since we are convinced that only a multi-dimensional approach can bring lasting solution to the crisis.

    “Our primary and immediate concern is the plight of children including in particular those that are being held in captivity by the terrorists as well as the fate of the civilian population in the North East, where human rights and humanitarian conditions are distressing.”

    John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana and current Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Governments in his welcome remarks, commended the establishment of peace operations in Cameroon and Chad to defeat the Boko Haram sect.

     

  • Boko Haram responsible for 18 attacks in Nigeria – UN

    The Boko Haram sect is responsible for at least 18 attacks on civilians in northern Nigeria in the past two weeks and the escalating violence threatens the security of West Africa, a senior United Nations official said on Tuesday.

    The U.N special envoy for West Africa, Said Djinnit, told the U.N Security Council that insecurity in northeastern Nigeria, coupled with growing political tensions ahead of planned general elections in 2015, had left the country at a crossroads.

    “The level of violence against civilians in Nigeria continues to escalate,” he said. “It is disheartening to note that within the last two weeks at least 18 attacks attributed to Boko Haram have been conducted, resulting in the tragic death of innocent civilians and displacement of peoples.”

    “The Boko Haram crisis is now affecting security in the sub region,” said Djinnit.

    Boko Haram, whose name roughly translates as “Western education is sinful,” has killed thousands in bomb and gun attacks since 2009 in a bid to carve out an Islamist state, Reuters reports.

    It initially focused on government and security targets, as well as churches and Muslim leaders who rejected its brand of Islam. But it has increasingly targeted civilians, emboldened by global outrage after it kidnapped more than 200 schoolgirls from the remote village of Chibok in April.

    “All efforts should be made to address the insurgency and insecurity,” Djinnit said. “The present situation underscores the paramount need for the Nigerian political class to forge a unified stand in confronting the persisting insecurity.”

  • Abduction: UN Special Rep meets presidential committee

    Abduction: UN Special Rep meets presidential committee

    The   United Nations Secretary General Special Representative on the Abduction of the Chibok Schoolgirls, Ambassador Said Djinnit, has held consultations with the presidential fact-finding committee on the situation.

    He pledged the support of the UN in the search for and rescue of the girls according to the spokesperson for the presidential committee, Mr. Kingsley Osadolor.

    Djinnit, who is also the UN Secretary General Special Representative (Political) for West Africa, said that beyond the outrage and global condemnation of the abduction, the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, is interested in a support package to ensure the release of the schoolgirls, and to deal with the larger issues arising from the circumstances of the abduction.

    He said: “We care about Nigeria. We highly support the multi-dimensional approach of President Goodluck Jonathan in solving the problems in the North-East of the country.

    “The people of Nigeria should be in full solidarity with the government in solving the current challenges.”

    The UN is represented on the committee by Mr. Daouda Toure, head of the UN agencies in Nigeria.

    Speaking at the meeting, the committee chairman, Brig-Gen. Ibrahim Sabo (retd), said the panel has already held a series of consultations with various contact persons, including security, defence, and intelligence agencies.

    He welcomed the offer of the UN Special Representative to  put the  wide-ranging expertise and experience  of the global body at the disposal of the panel.

  • Boko Haram: UN calls for regional cooperation

    The fight to eliminate terrorism requires regional cooperation, United Nations said on Thursday.

    He submitted that the scourge can only be prevented if there is sharing of information among neighboring countries.

    Addressing journalists in Abuja, the Representative of the UN Secretary General for West Africa, Mr. Said Djinnit, also said the global body welcomes the holistic approach used in tackling insecurity in Nigeria.

    Besides, Djinnit assured Nigeria of UN’s support in the efforts to rescue the over 200 schoolgirls abducted by the Boko Haram sect a month ago.

    He said,” We have welcomed the holistic approach used in tackling insecurity in Nigeria. This scourge can only b prevented if neigbours share information. This requires regional cooperation.

    Besides, he said UN “is committed to do its utmost within its capacity to assist Nigerian authorities in the efforts to secure the girls’ release.”

    As part of the assistance, Djinnit said UN has initiated the preparation of an integrated support package that includes immediate support to the affected families, the

    population and the girls after their release, in particular with psycho-social counseling and facilitation of their reintegration in families and communities.

  • UN envoy hails Nigeria, Cameroon over Bakassi transfer

    The United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Representative for West Africa, Mr. Sa’id Djinnit, has praised Nigeria and Cameroon for their commitment that led to the transfer of sovereignty over the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon.

    The UN scribe’s special representative described the process leading to the transfer of the peninsula as a good example of preventive diplomacy.

    The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that in June 2006, the two countries signed the UN-backed Green tree Agreement, setting the terms and timeframe for implementation of the 2002 ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the demarcation of their border.

    In line with the Court’s ruling, Nigeria formally ceded the territory in 2008, followed by a five-year transitional phase that ended on August 14 this year.

    At the final meeting of the Follow-Up Committee established to monitor the implementation of the Greentree Agreement, Djinnit, who is also the President of the Committee, commended both parties for their commitment.

    He said the commitment by the parties had allowed them to finalise the process of implementing the agreement.

    The meeting was held in Geneva between October 21 and October 22.

    “This demonstrates their attachment to the rule of law and the good neighbourly spirit that prevails today between the two countries,’’ Djinnit said.

    During the meeting, Cameroon and Nigeria signed a joint statement in which they confirmed that the five-year transition period ended on August 14, and that as of this date, Cameroon had full sovereignty over the Bakassi Peninsula.