UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Friday reiterated concern over the "challenging security situation" in West Africa and the Sahel and urged the UN bodies in the region to better collaborate to tackle it.

In a presidential statement, the council said terrorism, maritime piracy, conflicts between herders and farmers and transnational crimes are posing threats to the security situation in the region.

It welcomed the efforts by UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) to support regional analysis and early warning mechanisms in this regard.

On transnational crimes in particular, the council reaffirmed its condemnation of trafficking in persons, saying it contributes to other forms of crime and may exacerbate conflict, and stressed the need to ensure organization and coherence in the efforts of the UN system to address the issue.

It expressed encouragement for further cooperation, mutual prioritization and a clear division of tasks among various UN offices, agencies and departments, including UNOWAS and the UN regional Office for Central Africa, in addressing conflict prevention and sustaining peace in the region.