The UN Security Council (UNSC) and African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) have urged Guinea Bissau’s coup leaders to relinquish power and voiced concern about an al-Qaeda threat in Mali, the battle of the Sudans and Somali piracy. 

The two councils, charged with maintaining and promoting peace and security, met for talks in New York on Wednesday and agreed on an eight-page statement that addressed the top security issues in Africa and strengthening cooperation between the two bodies.

Military coups in Guinea Bissau and Mali, simmering border clashes between Sudan and South Sudan, and a bid to stabilize Somalia warranted special mentions in the statement.

Unconstitutional changes
"The members of the UNSC and the AUPSC condemned the recent instances of unconstitutional change in West Africa and reiterated their commitment to strengthening democracy, peace and stability on the continent," the statement said.

They are worried about the threat posed by transnational organized crime, including illicit weapons and drug trafficking, piracy and armed robbery at sea, particularly in West Africa and the Sahel region, according to the statement.

"They further expressed serious concern about the insecurity and rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Sahel region, which is further complicated by the presence of armed groups and terrorist groups and their activities," it said.

Mali and Guinea-Bissau
Mali's 22 March military coup triggered the fall of the north of the country to secular and Islamist rebels, who now control a desert region the size of France at the heart of the Sahara. The rebel takeover has emboldened al Qaeda's North Africa wing, and other forces such as Nigerian militants from Boko Haram.

Just weeks later, Guinea-Bissau soldiers took power on 12 April, further undermining West Africa's fragile democracy gains.

Guinea-Bissau has suffered turmoil from several coups and army uprisings since independence from Portugal in 1974, but the latest one has also set back Western efforts to combat drugs cartels using the country as a transshipment point to Europe.

The joint UN-African Union statement underlined an "urgent need to continue to strengthen measures to restore and respect constitutional order, including a democratic electoral process, and that members of the 'Military Command' relinquish their position of authority" in Guinea-Bissau.

Sudans and Somalia
The two councils welcomed the resumption of talks between Sudan and South Sudan – which were brought to the brink of war by border clashes in April – but expressed concern at the "prevailing" situation as well as ongoing violence in the Sudanese regions of South Kordofan, Blue Nile and Darfur.

The statement said the two councils were worried that some deadlines had been missed in Somalia's transition to democracy and were "gravely concerned by the threat that piracy and armed robbery at sea against vessels pose to the situation in Somalia and other States in the region."

The UN Security Council and the AU Peace and Security Council plan to meet again before July 2013 in Addis Ababa.

Source: Reuters