By UCHE BIBILARI

President of Republic of Niger Mahamadou Issoufou has underscored the need for countries in Lake Chad Basin and Sahel to intensify efforts in finding lasting solutions to terrorism.

Issoufou said this at opening ceremony of the International forum on peace and stabilisation on Wednesday in Niamey.

Represented by the Prime Minister of Republic of Niger, Mr Brigi Rafini, he said that the objective of the forum was to examine and highlight the necessary links between stabilisation programmes and military operations.

According to him, it will help to combat insurgency and terrorism combined with actions of securing the populations led by the internal security forces.

“The challenge is to bring together those involved in stabilisation programmes and those leading military operations on ground to achieve a better mutual understanding of each other’s objectives, priorities and expectations.

“Stabilisation programmes include an important dimension of re-establishing or strengthening state authority which depends on an improved control over the territory by the armed and internal security forces,” he said.

He said that there was need to create adequate condition to fight the menace of insurgency in the neighbouring countries, saying that it has led to the loss of lives and livelihood of people.

The president further advised that borders in the region should be controlled, adding that the extremists were using all means possible to attack civilians and the military.

He called on stakeholders to participate equally to ensure the stability, peace and sustainable development in the regions.

Mr Mahamat Annadif, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Mali and Head of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission, said the forum should proffer short and long term solution in solving the problems of terrorism.

He said that the operations of extremists such as Boko Haram were not same as they kept changing pattern and mode of operations anytime solution was given, making it more difficult to tackle.

He said that there was need to intensify efforts on peace and stabilisation programmes, adding that the success of the stabilisation programme depended on the cooperation of all involved, including the military.

“The states of the Lake Chad Basin and the Sahel are facing a multidimensional crisis whose causes are both structural and economic or geopolitical.

“Stabilisation and development programme aim to integrate a combination of long term reconstruction and peace building approaches with lasting institutional anchoring,” he said.

Ms Louise Aubin, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System in Niger, said that the fight against insurgency had worsened in Lake Chad Basin and had posed a great treat to the regions and beyond.

She said there was need for a better response to address the situations, adding that the recommendations during the forum would be of great importance for stabilisation of peace.

She said that the forum was an approach towards ensuring peace and stability in the Sahel and the Lake Chad regions.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the forum is organised by the High Authority for the Consolidation of peace and sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

NAN also recalls that a Governors’ Forum on Regional Stabilisation Strategy (RSS) was held in 2019 by the governors in Lake Chad basin to tackle the root causes of terrorism and criminalities in the societies. (NAN)