As the first partner of the G5 Sahel, UNODC supports the Police Component of the G5 Sahel Joint Force, the Security Cooperation Platform, and the Regional Police Academy. UNODC also supports Cellrad in the prevention of violent extremism and facilitates the design of security-development projects in partnership with UN agencies.
In Mali, the Sahel Program also contributes to cross-border cooperation in the Liptako Gourma region.
Transnational Organized CrimeUNODC supports the implementation of the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (Palermo Convention) and its supplementary protocols. In particular, the program is involved in :
Trafficking in Persons and Illicit Trafficking in Migrants, Drugs and Firearms, Money Laundering and Cybercrime by equipping the country with a digital forensics laboratory. UNODC also supports the research and analysis capacities of the connections between crime and terrorism.
TerrorismUNODC promotes the implementation of international conventions within governments, not only through the development of appropriate national legislation, but also by supporting the judicial processing of terrorism cases. Numerous trainings have been undertaken since 2021 with the financial and technical support of MINUSMA, including on countering violent extremism and specialized investigative techniques. In 2021, UNODC supported the organization of a special session of the Court of Assisi, which allowed 50 cases related to terrorism to be processed and tried.
Anti-CorruptionUNODC supports national authorities to fight corruption more effectively through the implementation of the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), including legislative, policy and institutional assistance, and sensitization of citizens and civil society on anti-corruption issues. UNODC also supports the Norbert Zongo Unit for Investigative Journalism in West Africa (CENOZO) and has put in place initiatives to promote investigative journalism on issues such as corruption and organized crime.
Strengthening criminal justice systems
In the prison environment, the Sahel Program supports countries in the areas of.
1. Prevention of radicalization.
2. Reducing the number of prisoners awaiting trial.
3. Technical assistance for juvenile justice.
4. Processing of terrorism cases.
5. Capacity building of prison staff.
UNODC also facilitates Burkina Faso's participation in the Sahel Platform for Judicial Cooperation (SPJC) and WACAP.
