Thank you Mr President and thank you to USG Lacroix and Ms. Sinaré for their briefings and of course to the Permanent Representative of Chad for setting out their view.

It is clear again today that violence is spreading, civilians are continuing to suffer and humanitarian access is proving yet more challenging. All this is taking place amidst growing political uncertainty in Mali and Chad and worrying trends in regional cooperation.

As others have said, just last week, we saw further terrorist incidents in Niger’s Tillaberi region, leading to a significant loss of life. Our sincere condolences go to the families of the victims in Niger, and to all those caught up in conflict zones across the Sahel.

Mr President, as I stated when the Council last discussed the Sahel in May, it is clear that any military response to the problems of insecurity in the region need to be integrated into broader efforts to improve governance and indeed, to address the socio-economic challenges and under-representation and mistreatment of women, set out so clearly today by Ms Sinaré.

The key to this in Mali is a timely democratic transition, as the Council discussed at the end of October. During the visit to the region last month, the Council had the opportunity to hear first-hand about MINUSMA’s engagement with the Malian transitional authorities to encourage their development of a strategy for the protection of civilians in central Mali. The Council also heard about Niger’s efforts to address insecurity and the impact of climate change, and to support access to education, especially for girls.

The UK will support the work of Niger’s High Authority for the Consolidation of Peace aimed at improving the resilience of local populations in the tri-border area, and promoting dialogue between communities and state representatives to help resolve disputes. We also support and encourage government engagement with humanitarian, stabilisation and development partners in relation to internally displaced persons and refugee returns, in order to ensure that returns are safe and sustainable.

There can be no sustainable peace and security in the Sahel without the protection of human rights and compliance with international humanitarian law. We continue to urge all governments to investigate allegations of human rights violations and abuses when they arise, to prosecute those responsible, and to ensure respect for international human rights standards and judicial processes in the course of counter-terrorism operations. In this regard, we welcome the announcement by the Malian authorities of the three cases brought to the Military Tribunal in Bamako this month. It is an important step forward in the fight against impunity.

We recognise the efforts of the G5 Sahel nations and their partners to address security concerns and to tackle cross-border threats. We support the aims of the G5 Sahel Joint Force as one key part of the solution to the challenges in the Sahel. We have noted the Secretary-General’s letter of October regarding alternative support models for the Joint Force, which we had hoped would propose options for bilateral and multilateral support mechanisms other than simply the UN. As we have said consistently, we have a fundamental concern with UN involvement in offensive, national counter-terrorism operations. We therefore do not believe the UN is the right vehicle to provide durable support to the Joint Force.

But we stand ready to continue to engage with partners to discuss possible alternative solutions that would enable the Joint Force to build its own capacities to a self-sustaining basis over time. To reiterate, this is only part of the solution. In parallel with this, there needs to be sustained effort on human rights compliance and investment in broader political efforts to address the underlying causes of conflict.

In conclusion, Mr President, we know just how grave the challenges faced by the G5 Sahel countries are. For our part, we are proud to be supporting efforts to stabilise the region, including through our deployment in MINUSMA. We remain committed to helping address the Sahel’s challenges not just militarily, but also through a greater focus on stabilisation, governance, and development. We look forward to continuing constructive discussions with all partners, in the interests of the long-term peace, stability and development of the region.

Excellencies, colleagues

I warmly express my gratitude to President Macron for hosting us here together in Paris today, and thank him and Chancellor Merkel, Prime Minister Draghi, Prime Minister Dabaiba and the Secretary General of the UN Guterres, for organising this important conference at a crucial time. I would also like to thank Special Envoy Kubiš, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, Under-Secretary General DiCarlo, and the UN for their tireless work to facilitate a Libyan-led and owned process, which the UK supports unreservedly.

We are at a pivotal point in Libya’s political process. Libyans and the international community must now work together across the political, security and economic tracks to strengthen Libya’s sovereignty.

First, Libyans must coalesce around a framework for free, fair, and inclusive Presidential and Parliamentary elections on 24 December. These elections must allow for the full, equal and meaningful participation of women and youth. Only through elections can all Libyans express their will over the decisions that affect their lives. Libya’s institutions, including the House of Representatives, must immediately cooperate and compromise in order to agree a final and comprehensive set of electoral laws.

Actions that undermine the electoral process only risk a return to division, violence, and conflict. This will cause the Libyan people, who have already tolerated so much, further suffering. After a decade of conflict, Libyans deserve the right to vote for their executive and legislative representatives.

Libyan sovereignty now rests on Libya’s political class putting the interests of the people they represent first.

I thank the High National Election Commission for their work in preparation for voting, including the registration of 2.8 million Libyans on the electoral lists. But technical bodies cannot secure successful elections alone. All candidates participating in elections must act in good faith before, during and after elections, agree to put aside partisan differences, and accept the results. The international community will not hesitate to act against those who undermine this process.

Second, the 5+5 Joint Military Committee has made important progress on the security track. I welcome their comprehensive Action Plan for the withdrawal of foreign forces and mercenaries. However, the international community has not lived up to its side of the bargain in implementing international obligations. The 23 October Ceasefire Agreement, United Nations Security Council Resolution 2570, and the 5+5 JMC Action Plan are unequivocal: all foreign forces and mercenaries must be withdrawn without delay.

I therefore welcome the deployment of UN ceasefire monitors in support of the Libyan Ceasefire Monitoring Mission. The Mission must now work to monitor and verify the presence and withdrawal of those foreign forces and mercenaries. Only when free of foreign military interference will Libyans truly be able to claim sovereignty over their own country.

Finally, recent attacks by armed groups on the National Oil Corporation are clear attempts to control Libya’s natural resources at the expense of the Libyan people. I call on the Libyan authorities to safeguard the integrity, unity and independence of the National Oil Corporation. Libya’s political process must benefit all Libyans through the transparent management and equitable distribution of resources, and the delivery of public services.

The UK stands ready to work with Libya and international partners to build a peaceful, stable, prosperous and sovereign Libya.

• The training program will consist of four workshops focused on micro mobility solutions for cities in Guatemala.
• The funding is part of UK aid, a program focused on promoting sustainable development such as fighting climate change.

This project is funded by the development assistance of the British Government (UK aid) and imparted by the Mexican consulting firm bikeNcity. The UK program aims to support small and medium-sized civil society organizations to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The opening workshop was attended by Ambassador Nick Whittingham from the British Embassy; Fernando Rodríguez, Planning Manager, and Eddy Morataya, Director of Urban Mobility, from the Municipality of Guatemala; Camila Herrero, Climate Policy Expert and Kennia Aguirre, Executive Director, from bikeNcity.

The active mobility training program aims to strengthen the capabilities of municipal staff in order to implement micro mobility projects, especially bicycle transportation, as part of municipal plans and initiatives. These workshops include the participation of other municipalities of Guatemala, such as Xela, Villanueva, Mixco, Chinautla and Santa Catarina Pinula, as well as cycling organizations, such as Shebikes.

Today’s hybrid workshop covered the topic of climate change, it was held in person and virtually. It showed the intrinsic relationship between the effects of climate change, active mobility and public space in cities as mitigation and adaptation measures. It also reviewed Guatemala’s national and international policy on the subject.

Three more workshops will be held in person during the week of 6th-10th December, which will address the topics of public policy, road design and micro mobility systems. As part of these workshops, street tours will be conducted in Guatemala City and, through observation, an analysis will be made of the state of these streets and their possible transformation in terms of sustainable urban mobility and micro mobility.

COP26 concludes today in Scotland, where policies to address climate change and protect the environment were discussed. The United Kingdom will continue to work with Guatemala on these issues.