ECOWAS and UN Political Div. Meet to Address W/Africa’s Security Challenges Ahead of Security Council Briefing.
By Raymond Enoch
The Western Africa Division of the United Nations (UN) and the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) co-convened a high-level consultative session on April 2, 2025, bringing together Permanent Representatives of West African countries to discuss pressing regional security issues.
This meeting, which took place ahead of the crucial Security Council briefing on April 3, 2025, marked a pivotal moment in the ongoing efforts to secure a stable and prosperous future for West Africa.
The meeting was attended by Mr. Leonardo Santos Simão, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of UNOWAS, who provided insight into the evolving security landscape in West Africa. His briefing to the UN Security Council the following day focused on the Secretary-General’s report on peace consolidation efforts in the region, underscoring the growing challenges posed by terrorism, organized crime, and political instability.
The report, presented to the Security Council, highlighted the critical need for continued regional cooperation to address these multifaceted threats. It emphasized that, while West Africa has made significant strides in terms of peace and development over the past decades, maintaining security and promoting integration remain central to the region’s long-term success. The report particularly stressed the importance of maintaining and strengthening collaboration through organizations like the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which has been at the forefront of addressing these challenges.
Key areas of focus in the report included support for the Multinational Joint Task Force operating in the Lake Chad basin, as well as initiatives like the Accra Initiative and the ECOWAS Standby Force. These efforts were highlighted as critical to the ongoing fight against terrorism and organized criminal activity in the region, with a call for sustained international support to bolster these initiatives.
In her intervention during the consultative session, Ambassador Kinza Jawara-Njai, ECOWAS Permanent Observer to the UN, reaffirmed the Commission’s unwavering commitment to fostering regional integration and stability. She provided an update on ECOWAS’ ongoing initiatives, noting the organization’s continuous efforts to build stronger ties among West African nations in pursuit of sustainable development and lasting peace. Ambassador Jawara-Njai emphasized that collaboration with UNOWAS remains vital in ensuring that the gains made over the years are not lost and that West Africa remains resilient in the face of emerging challenges.
The session also served as an opportunity for representatives from the region to engage in frank discussions, share perspectives, and align their strategies to ensure the region’s peacebuilding and security goals are met in the most effective manner possible.
As the world continues to watch the security situation in West Africa, the consultative session marked a significant step toward a unified approach in addressing the complexities of regional stability. The continued cooperation between ECOWAS and UNOWAS is seen as essential to safeguarding the future of the region and ensuring that West Africa can continue its journey toward peace and prosperity.
