ECOWAS and its Member States’ Ambassadors are charting a way forward for regional stability, peace and security. The intensified cooperation was reinforced at the thematic briefing session with Member States’ Ambassadors which held on the 10th of May in Abuja, Nigeria.
Speaking on the session’s theme: 2022 Security outlook amid military intrusion into politics and limits of ECOWAS Security Mechanisms and Peace and Security Mechanisms the Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission Madam Finda Koroma restated the ECOWAS’ commission’s commitment to peace and security, noting that the existing mechanisms for these, would continue to be strengthened to respond to the regional dynamics.
She commended the Commission’s partners for their consistent efforts in promoting peace and stability in the face of the recent resurgence of military coups in the region while assuring that within the framework of its mandate, ECOWAS will continue to promote the conducive atmosphere for harmony and integration.
In his opening remarks, the ECOWAS Commission’s Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and security, Gen Francis Behanzin, represented by the Director, Political Affairs Dr. Aderemi Ajibewa, noted that the briefing session presents the opportunity for analysis of the various security threats and examination of the current relapse in the regional democratic space, typified by the coup d’états in Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso as well as the attempted coup in Guinea Bissau, within a space of six months.
The occurrences he added, “necessitates a retrospective interrogation of the events leading up to the coups, an evaluation of ECOWAS’ response and the development of a strategy that will not only return the aforementioned member states to democratic rule but also ensure the prevention of future coups in the region”
Dr. Chukwuemeka Eze (Executive Director of the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding) presented the 2022 regional peace-and security outlook. He stressed that interventions should be focused on the drivers of instability and conflict. He highlighted the linkage between Democracy and Governance and Organized Crime and Violence Extremism, Gender Peace and Security, and Environmental Security.
The briefing was also attended by the African Union, ECOWAS ambassadors to Ethiopia. The Ambassadors were presented by the Nigerian Defense College and ECOWAS officials from the relevant Directorates. This highlighted the interconnectedness between security and governance and the need to engage more in the areas of youth inclusivity and women, peace and safety.
The meeting ended with full benefits from discussions, questions, and comments. Amb Eddison Agbenyegah, Deputy Head of Mission/High Commission to Nigeria and ECOWAS chaired the session and charged the authorities in the area to continue to respond to security and peace challenges in the region in a more decisive way to avoid recurrences of military incursions or related instability.
Thematic sessions were also supported by WANEP and other partners. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and the European Union, through the ECOWAS Peace and Security Architecture and Operations (EPSAO) Project.
Distributed by APO Group, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
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Source: african.business
