A number of factors play a role in West Africa's vulnerability to transnational organize crime activities. In order to achieve a desirable level of gathering, analyzing and sharing of intelligence, UNODC, held on October 5-6 2017 in Dakar, a "regional workshop on the acquisition, analysis and sharing of intelligence against transnational organized crime through the case of two West African corridors". Read more

Niger treats 230 cases of terrorism in 60 days

Niger has treated 230 cases of terrorism in 60 days, as a results of concerted action of the Nigerien judicial authorities supported by United Nations volunteers and the UNODC. Indeed, UNODC recruited and trained ten Nigerien lawyers as UNVs, to help provide legal assistance to persons detained for terrorism. The majority of these terrorism suspects had been held in pre-trial detention since 2015. Read more

Key justices add voices to global fight against corruption in the judicial system

As part of the anti-corruption efforts by UNODC, a series of meetings and discussions with Chief Justices and senior judicial officers are taking place across the world ahead of the 2018 launch of the Global Judicial Integrity Network. To ensure that voices and views from across Africa are taken into account, a preparatory meeting is being held from 3-4 October in Ouagadougou. The Global Judicial Integrity Network will be launched to support States to fully implement the UN Convention against Corruption. Read more

UNODC trains G5 Sahel authorities on terrorist ideology

Three national workshops on the understanding and analysis of the jihadist doctrine were organized in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, to strengthen the capacities of law enforcement and justice officials in charge of the fight against terrorism.This training aims to provide them with tools enabling to enforce effective preventive and repressive measures based on the understanding and analysis of the ideology behind terrorist action. Read more

Independent evaluation highlights best practices of UNODC Sahel Programme

The Sahel Programme, considered one of UNODC's flagship programmes, concluded an independent mid-term evaluation with a report available online. Responding to local realities, the Programme integrates almost all UNODC mandates and demonstrated concrete results achieved by the governments in the region. The independent evaluation also formulated recommendations for the coming years. Read more

Mentoring sessions for the National Units of the G5 Sahel Security Cooperation Platform

UNODC provided two mentoring session to the staff of the G5 Sahel National Security Cooperation Platform (SCP) in Niger, from 23 to 25 May 2017, and Burkina Faso, from 13 to 15 September 2017, in the context of its programme to support the operationalization of the G5 Sahel SCP. Targeting officials appointed to the national units of the SCP, the aim is to accompany them in the implementation of their activities. Read more

Drug trafficking in the Sahel : several seizures made in Mali and Niger

In Mali and Niger, law enforcement officers have seized about 3 kg of cocaine after having arrested two traffickers during the month of September 2017. During the same period, prison authorities in the Ségou region of Mali were able to seize illicit psychotropic substances thanks to detection equipment provided by UNODC. These operational results showcase a strong commitment against illicit drug trafficking. Read more

Deployment of the G5 Sahel joint force: UNODC increases its engagement

The UN Security Council Resolution 2359 highlights a need for increased regional cooperation and a regional response to the threats of terrorism and of transnational illicit trafficking. It also welcomes the deployment of the G5 Sahel joint force, which will complement MINUSMA's mandate in Mali. UNODC will continue to work closely with these two key partners to promote peace in the Sahel. Read more

Senegal: Magistrates and investigators trained on the financing of terrorism

In the context of fighting terrorism, UNODC organised a training workshop on the investigation and prosecution of the financial aspects of terrorism. The workshop took place from 16 to 18 August 2017 in Dakar and brought together 24 law enforcement and criminal justice officials. The training was opened by high-ranking officials from the Gendarmerie, the Ministry of Justice and the diplomatic representation of Luxembourg. Read more

UNODC supports legal reforms in The Gambia

Further to requests for assistance formulated by the Ministry of Justice and of Information and Communication, UNODC organized two workshops in The Gambia between 7th and 11th August to support the Gambian efforts in drafting and adopting an Anti-Corruption Bill and a Freedom of Information Bill in line with international standards and best practices. The participants recommended a set of revisions and additions to the draft Bills. Read more

Mali fights against the financing of terrorism and cash smuggling

UNODC, supported by the Cellule Nationale de Traitement des Informations Financières du Mali (CENTIF) and with the participation of the MINUSMA, organized a workshop in financial disruption for terrorist networks in Bamako, between 7 and 10 August 2017. The aim was to establish and maintain a network of experts who have a specialist understanding of how to disrupt terrorist networks by targeting their financial infrastructure. Read more

Fighting terrorism, corruption, migrant smuggling and human trafficking in the Sahel

UNODC organized a workshop in Bamako, from 2 to 4 August 2017 with officials of Judiciary, Police and Gendarmerie training schools of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. The nexus between terrorism and organized crime is a crucial security issue in the Sahel. These links seem to be intensified due to corruption. Moreover, human trafficking provides armed groups with enrichment opportunities. Read more

UNODC supports the establishment of National Epidemiology Network in Liberia

In West Africa unavailability of reliable data on trends of drug use is a major setback to drug demand reduction efforts. To address the gap in epidemiological data on the demand and consumption of drugs, UNODC organized the first National meeting of Epidemiology Network on drug use and a National workshop on collection, analysis, and dissemination of data on drug use in Liberia (27-28 July) and Côte d'Ivoire (in August). Read more

UNODC and partners build forensics capacities in Nigeria

Drug traffickers have forged links with criminal networks and use false documents to conceal their traces and identities. To combat organized crime related to drug trafficking, it is necessary to develop forensic capacities in West Africa because the criminal networks benefit from the low level of forensic resources and control. UNODC organized a training workshop on document analysis from 26 to 28 July 2017 in Lagos. Read more

Lake Chad Basin: integrating gender dimensions to fight terrorism

According to UN Women, "the great changes we are undergoing must primarily be understood in the context of the needs and concerns of women in specific situations of conflict. Women's participation is key to sustainable peace". UNODC and the High Commission for Human Rights organized a workshop on Gender Dimensions of Criminal Justice Responses to Terrorism in Yaoundé, on 19-21 July 2017. Read more

End of training cycle for Nigerien lawyers on the assistance and defense in terrorism cases

From 17 to 19 July 2017, the third and last training workshop for Nigerien lawyers on the assistance and defense in terrorism cases took place in Niamey. This workshop takes part of the implementation of a capacity building project for the Pôle judiciaire spécialisé in Niamey, mainly regarding access to justice. This project was undertaken in a context marked by a resurgence of terrorist acts by Boko Haram. Read more

UNODC visits Niamey Prison on Nelson Mandela Day

The UNODC justice team chose to mark Nelson Mandela Day with a visit to Niamey prison. It was the opportunity for UNODC to encourage the efforts made by the prison staff towards the respect and good treatment of detainees despite the current prison overcrowding in Niger. Besides, UNODC recalled that several activities took place in Niger since the beginning of the year aiming at improving the legislative assistance of detainees. Read more

The Mandela Rules in the spotlight at the Institute of Human Rights and Peace of Dakar

On 18th July, the international community marks Nelson Mandela Day, paying tribute to the former South African President that fought Apartheid and spent many years in prison. Every year, this day is an opportunity to promote better conditions of detention and to raise awareness on the plight of inmates. This year, UNODC decided to present the Nelson Mandela Rules to 80 students in Law at the university in Dakar. Read more

Supreme courts fight against terrorism in the Sahel

Faced with the continuous rise of terrorism in the Sahel, UNODC provides judiciary assistance to the region's States in order to help them better prevent, investigate and prosecute acts of terrorism. In this context, UNODC has organized a regional workshop on the role of supreme courts in the fight against terrorism. Building upon two previous regional meetings, the workshop took place in Nouakchott from 10 to 12 July. Read more

ECOWAS-EU-UNODC Steering Committee: a stronger commitment

Abuja, 10th July 2017- The Project "Support to ECOWAS Regional Action Plan on Illicit Drug Trafficking, related organized Crime and drug abuse in West Africa" held its third Steering Committee Coordination meeting on the 10th of July in the premises of the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja. The Steering Committee Coordination is held twice a year between the partners involved (ECOWAS, EU, UNODC). Read more

Mali seizes drugs and arrests traffickers and drug kingpins

According to the World Drug Report of 2017, West Africa's part in global drug trafficking has become a growing concern. In Mali, law enforcement officers have made several seizures during the month of June 2017, whether by overland or aerial routes. Capacity-building of law enforcement officials, in their fight against drug trafficking is a central component of UNODC's mandate in West and Central Africa. Read more

Mali and Niger strengthen intelligence analysis through the G5 Sahel

In the framework of its partnership with the G5 Sahel, and particularly with its Security Cooperation Platform, UNODC delivered two national training workshops in Niamey and Bamako, from 19 to 30 June 2017. These sessions focused on intelligence gathering and analysis, a fundamental aspect of countries' efforts to fight terrorism and transnational organized crime. Read more

Ghana: Countering fisheries crime in the trade supply chain

19-22 June 2017 the UNODC delivred a training course in Ghana on fisheries crime to enhance the operational skills of law enforcement officers fight fisheries crime. By bringing the CCP Port Control Units, customs, police, as well as the private sector together, cooperation between these agencies is strengthened, fostering a comprehensive approach to fight this type of crime. Read more

UNODC produces concrete results in the Sahel region

The Sahel Programme Progress Report of 2017 was launched on 15 June 2017 in the UNODC Headquarters, in Vienna. The Report showcases the outstanding results achieved by the governments of the Sahel region, with the support of UNODC, in their fight against trafficking, transnational organized crime, terrorism, and trafficking in persons and of migrants. Read more