Bassirou Diomaye Faye

Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye of Senegal condemned the UN Security Council for its inaction regarding the deaths and instability in the Sahel during his address to the United Nations General Assembly on September 25. “We cannot accept the Sahel becoming a battleground for foreign rivalries, which only worsen regional destabilization,” Faye stated. He emphasized, “Peace and security in Africa are tied to global peace. The Security Council must fully assume its role as a guarantor of international stability.” He referenced recent comments from Ukrainian officials regarding their involvement in attacks by separatist rebels in northeastern Mali, which drew criticism from Malian authorities. As jihadi threats grow, many Western governments have withdrawn their forces from the Sahel following military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. In his ten-minute speech, Faye also called for a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to unfair economic practices that hinder the Global South’s prosperity, highlighting issues like illegal trade and tax evasion. The 44-year-old leader urged for better African representation in multilateral institutions and called on developed nations to enhance their efforts in financing a fair transition to combat the climate crisis. “We must protect our planet without compromising the development rights of vulnerable nations,” he stated. Faye also criticized the unilateral imposition of civilizational norms that undermine global stability and peace.