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Sahel Programme 2013-2017 Sahel Programme 2013-2017 Strengthening the Sahel against Crime and Terrorism Progress Report January 2016 UNODC Sahel Programme 2013-2017 // Progress Report January 2016 1 Table of contents Context .............................................................................................................................. 3 Implementation ................................................................................................................. 4 Results ............................................................................................................................... 5 Programming at the UN ...................................................................................................19 The way forward .............................................................................................................. 21 Strategy, donors and management ............................................................................... 23 The Sahel: An overview ................................................................................................... 24 List of activities ................................................................................................................ 26 This report has been written in the memory of Damien Rey. Damien was the Regional Programme Advisor, Peace and Stability, for the Government of Denmark, based in Bamako, Mali. Previously, Damien served as the Terrorism Prevention Programme Officer in ROSEN from 2009 to 2013, and played a lead role in delivering UNODC’s specialized counter-terrorism assistance to the Sahel and other West and Central African countries. Damien passed away in a tragic accident in his native France in July 2015. 2 UNODC Sahel Programme 2013-2017 // Progress Report January 2016 UNODC Sahel Programme Context “Enhancing the accessibility, efficiency and accountability This report provides information on the results of criminal justice systems to achieved and activities implemented by the combat drug trafficking, ter- United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in the context of its Contribution rorism, illicit trafficking, orga- to the United Nations Integrated Strategy nized crime and corruption” for the Sahel (UNISS) from the start of its implementation in January 2014 to November 2015. The objective of the contribution of UNODC The Sahel to UNISS (short: Sahel Programme) is to strengthen the capacity of governments in the The Sahel region refers to Burkina Faso, Sahel region to combat drug trafficking, illicit Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger. In its trafficking, organized crime, terrorism and programme implementation, UNODC corruption and to enhance the accessibility, makes linkages with other countries in efficiency and accountability of criminal justice the region, such as Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, systems. Ghana, Guinea, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo, as relevant and necessary. UNODC has unique expertise in helping Member States of the United Nations address To ensure a comprehensive and organized crime and related illicit trafficking sustainable approach to the challenges and terrorism through legislative, criminal affecting the region, the neighbouring justice and law enforcement advisory services, countries in the Maghreb region (Algeria, technical assistance, as well as promoting Libya and Morocco) also participate in the regional and international cooperation. Sahel Programme. UNODC Sahel Programme 2013-2017 // Progress Report January 2016 3 Implementation From its launch in January 2014 until November 2015, the Sahel Programme implemented 186 activities strengthening Member States’ capacities in the areas of border control, terrorism prevention, criminal justice reform, the fi ght against human traffi cking and migrant smuggling, and anti-corruption. 186 5,700 + ACTIVITIES IMPLEMENTED DIRECT BENEFICIARIES Burkina Faso,17 Firearms, 30 Chad, 9 Sahel, 67 Anti-Corruption, 33 Law Enforcement, 51 Mali, 47 Senegal, 24 Mauritania, 5 Terrorism, 35 Justice, 27 Forensic Capacity, 5 Niger, 17 TIP/SOM, 5 4 UNODC Sahel Programme 2013-2017 // Progress Report January 2016 Results UNODC has worked closely with authorities of Sahel countries to achieve the following results, described in more detail in the following pages: Niger passes legislation on smuggling of migrants 6 Mali seizes more drugs and initiates more court cases 7 Prosecutors increase exchange of information 8 Burkina Faso and Mali mark over 1,100 fi rearms 10 Chad improves information exchange to fi ght terrorism 11 Burkina Faso adopts two anti-corruption laws 12 Mauritania improves access to legal aid 13 The G5 Sahel launches its Security Cooperation Platform 14 First conviction for money laundering in Niger 15 Training academies adopt curricula on international cooperation 16 UNODC and partners set-up regional centre for investigative journalism 17 Airport task forces in Mali and Niger seize drugs 18 UNODC Sahel Programme 2013-2017 // Progress Report January 2016 5 Results 7UDτFNLQJLQSHUVRQV and smuggling of migrants Niger passes legislation on smuggling of migrants The Parliament of Niger unanimously a strong message to the criminal groups involved passed a legislation on the smuggling in these activities, and encouraging neighbouring of migrants in May 2015. This followed countries to adopt similar legislation. UNODC support provided to the Nigerien Along similar lines, UNODC provided Chad with government, encouraging the adoption legal drafting expertise, allowing legislators in the of the law and ensuring its alignment country to design a law against human trafficking. with international norms. Niger is the The law has since been presented to relevant ÄYZ[JV\U[Y`PU[OL:HOLS[VHKVW[Z\JO authorities, and is currently poised for adoption. legislation. Whether human beings are trafficked against Following the adoption of the law, the Minister their will for the purpose of exploitation (human of Justice of Niger and government spokesman, trafficking) or are facilitated to cross borders Marou Amadou, thanked members of parliament through irregular means for financial profit for approving the law and emphasized the (migrant smuggling), criminal groups profit from need for the country to protect its borders as these illegal activities, weakening Sahel States’ “transnational organized crime spreads terror ability to exert control over their territories and in the country.” The new law seeks to protect citizens. vulnerable migrants from human rights violations. To counter this trend, UNODC enhances the By October 2015, more than 3,000 migrants capacity of Governments and civil society to have died in the Mediterranean Sea while trying identify and combat human trafficking and to reach Europe. According to the authorities in smuggling of migrants by targeting the criminal Niger, at least 100,000 migrants transit through networks and by protecting and assisting victims their country each year in a bid to reach the of trafficking and smuggled migrants. coasts of the Mediterranean Sea. The adoption of this law sets a precedent for the region, sending 6 UNODC Sahel Programme 2013-2017 // Progress Report January 2016 Results Drug law enforcement Mali seizes more drugs and initiates more court cases In partnership with the UN peacekeeping TPZZPVU PU 4HSP 405<:4( <56+* delivered a training programme to build capacity of frontline law enforcement VɉJLYZ (Z H YLZ\S[ 4HSPHU H\[OVYP[PLZ made more drug seizures, initiated 41 JV\Y[ JHZLZ YLSH[LK [V KY\N [YHɉJRPUN and increased their understanding of criminal networks. Following a specialized training delivered in April institution – a subsequent UNODC training 2015, the Malian Police anti-drug squad (Brigade that took place in May 2015 strengthened des Stupéfiants) seized a total of 400 kg of coordination and cooperation between various cannabis, 436 doses of crack cocaine, 274 doses law enforcement agencies charged with tackling of “Off” (a drug containing a mixture of heroin and drug trafficking. Information is now shared, other substances), and 230 diazepam capsules. allowing Customs, Police and Gendarmerie officials to use their respective mandates to create synergies and provide timely, effective responses to international drug trafficking. “UNODC and MINUSMA have trained more than 660 law enforcement officers in Mali” The April 2015 training course was conducted in the framework of a Quick Impact Project established by Dmitry Titov (DPKO), following his joint visit with UNODC Executive Director, Yury Fedotov and UNODC Regional Representative “The training brought about a net increase in the for West and Central Africa, Pierre Lapaque to operations of the anti-drugs squad…For instance, Mali. The May 2015 training was part of UNODC’s the squad dismantled a drug trafficking network ongoing activities in Mali. that operated in a neighbourhood previously beyond the reach of law enforcement agencies UNODC collaborates with the UN Department (‘Missira’) in August 2015. This operation led to of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), its the trial of 10 of its members shortly after, and also Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission led to the arrest of one of Bamako’s main drug in Mali (MINUSMA), and the United Nations Police dealers in late September,” reported the squad’s (UNPOL) to strengthen the capacities of Malian Chief Superintendent Mohammed Ali Awaissoun. Police forces, the Gendarmerie and the National Guard on terrorism, drug trafficking and gender- According to Captain Salif Keïta, the Head of based violence, among others. Since February the
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