Abidjan – The International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) launched an Integrated Border Stability Mechanism (IBSM) aimed at strengthening cooperative border governance and security in areas strategically relevant for regional stability. 

While instability has been a recurring theme in the Sahel and West Africa, violent events have become more frequent and deadly in recent years and their underlying dynamics have grown increasingly complex.  

In this context the establishment of IBSM as a multilateral coordination platform will contribute to strengthening cooperation between actors involved in governance and border security in West Africa. The initiative will also   facilitate the implementation and development of regional and national strategies, and policy frameworks to improve governance and integrated border management in order to ensure better border stability. The stakeholders involved in this new integrated governance mechanism will benefit from a structured framework for sharing information and building capacities in immigration and border governance. 

This initiative is in line with the African Union Strategy for a Better Integrated Border Governance (2020) which stresses the positive potential of borders as vectors to promote peace, security and stability, and to improve and accelerate integration through effective governance of borders while facilitating easy movement of people, goods, services and capital among AU Member States.  

“As you know, Côte d'Ivoire, like other sister countries in the subregion, is facing attacks in its northern part.  You will therefore understand that any initiative relating to improving the management and security of our borders is important to us.” said General Touré Seydou, Diplomatic Advisor to the Ministry of Interior and Security, on behalf of the General Vagondo Diomandé, Minister of the Interior and Security of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, “ I sincerely hope that the work will result in relevant resolutions that will guarantee stability on the borders of the countries of our subregion.” 

Furthermore, the inaugural meeting served to bring to the fore again the need for a joint and comprehensive response based on the AU's Integrated Border Governance strategy, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and other regional and national policy frameworks. 

“It should be noted that the African Union’s Integrated Border Governance Strategy recognizes the primary responsibility of Member States for effective border governance. We, the partners, have a key responsibility to accompany and support them in appropriating this mechanism in order to guarantee its sustainability and effectiveness. So, my message is the transfer of skills and experience, and strengthening ownership with adequate means and resources.” Says Ms. Giovanie Biha, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General, UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS)  

“To our West African partners: The IBSM is the response to your rightful demands for a better coordinated international support to strengthen border security and border management capacities. It is your capacity building coordination mechanism” adds Tobias Grothe, Head of Section Security Sector Reform, German Federal Foreign Office. 

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For more media enquiries and information, please contact:    

IOM :  Joëlle Furrer, Regional media and communications lead, jfurrer@iom.int  

UNODC:  Zélia Briggs, M&E and Communication Assistant, zelia.briggs@sciencespo-lille.eu  

UNOCT:  Laurence Gerard, Head of the Communications Unit, gerardl@un.org