Lisbon, Feb. 16, 2021 (Lusa) - Portugal's prime minister, António Costa, on Tuesday called for "the restoration" of "trust between citizens and the state" as a "cornerstone for halting the advance" of terrorism in the Sahel, in addition to security actions for stabilisation.

Costa, who was speaking by videoconference at the summit of G5 Sahel heads of state in N'Djamena, stressed that this re-establishment should be based on "robust protection of the fundamental rights and freedoms of populations, economic development and also the fight against all crimes committed against them, regardless of the perpetrators.

The Portuguese prime minister stressed that Portugal's participation in stabilisation actions in the region was always guided, "in line with the European Union's global approach", "by the importance of complementing immediate actions, at the security level, with a long-term strategy that promotes the basic conditions of socio-economic development and the affirmation of the state as the sole authority in its territory".

"We are aware that the success of the security aspect is not enough. Portugal recognises the substantial obstacles that remain to ensure the full re-establishment of the state's essential structures and services - education, health, social protection, security, justice," he said, affirming Portugal's commitment to the Coalition for the Sahel.

Costa, who is taking part in the summit as part of the Portuguese presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU), pointed out that the Sahel "is a strategic region for the European Union" given the "enormous" security challenges it faces and its role "in the wider regional context, including Libya, the Gulf of Guinea and the Central African Republic".

"Africa will always be a priority for Portugal", he said, offering a firm commitment to the coalition for the Sahel, stressing "the importance of international partnerships, particularly the cooperation for peace and security between the European Union and the African Union".

"We should continue to deepen this cooperation, particularly given the next EU-AU Summit, which should take place as soon as possible," he said.

This seventh summit of the G5 Sahel, which brings together five countries in the region - Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Mauritania and Chad - aims to take stock of the actions undertaken since the Pau summit (southwest France) a year ago, when they decided to reinforce the military in the so-called "three borders" zone (Mali, Niger and Burkina) and to send 600 additional French soldiers, increasing the contingent from 4,500 to 5,100.

António Costa said in his speech that Portugal has been part of the UN mission in Mali (MINUSMA) since its inception and will contribute again this year with military participation and integrate all EU missions in the Sahel with civilian and military experts.

The G5 Sahel was formed in February 2014 to strengthen the coordination of efforts between Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad. Its first mission was to contain the growing terrorist threat in the region, especially after the start of the 2012 Malian war.

The Sahel region faces a multifaceted crisis with the actions of Islamic extremists, affiliated to both Al-Qaida and Islamic State, intercommunal conflicts, climate change, food insecurity and poverty.

MDR/ADB // ADB.

Lusa