The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has identified increasingly complex security challenges in the region that require stronger cooperation and collective action. Violent extremism, terrorism, political tensions, organised crime, and humanitarian pressures are becoming interconnected and crossing national borders. This was stated by the director of Political Affairs of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Babatunde Tolu Afolabi, at a meeting in Abuja.
The meeting, organised by Building Blocks For Peace Foundation, was themed “From Dialogue to Action: Reflecting on WAPSeD 2025 Commitments and Setting the Agenda for WAPSeD 2027.” Afolabi, represented by Gnacabja Constant, emphasised that sustainable peace could not be achieved by one institution, government, or sector alone. ECOWAS is committed to creating platforms for regional institutions, civil society organisations, development partners, and peace practitioners to discuss emerging security challenges.
Afolabi highlighted the need for a comprehensive approach to achieving sustainable peace, focusing on the three Ps: People, prevention, and partnership. He stressed that peace and security should not be limited to responding to crises; prevention must remain central to regional efforts. ECOWAS has been working on preventing crises, and Afolabi acknowledged concerns about communication by regional institutions, stating that ECOWAS is learning from its challenges.
The director of Political Affairs emphasised the need to move beyond dialogue and initiatives to concrete action. He recognised that the existence of initiatives is not enough and that ECOWAS needs to act, analyse, and recommend actions. Afolabi added that ECOWAS would continue working with member states, civil society organisations, development partners, and other stakeholders towards a more peaceful and resilient West Africa.
In his keynote address, Charles Ukeje, a professor of International Relations at Obafemi Awolowo University and Board Chair of the Building Blocks for Peace Foundation, called for greater participation by women, young people, minorities, and marginalised communities in peace and security discussions. Ukeje stated that communities directly affected by insecurity must have a voice in decisions concerning their lives.
Ukeje urged stakeholders to identify and mobilise local resources and capacities instead of relying exclusively on external actors. He emphasised that civil society organisations must ensure that communities have a voice in processes that affect them. This is crucial in achieving sustainable peace and addressing the root causes of insecurity in the region.
ECOWAS and stakeholders are working together to address the complex security challenges in West Africa. The region's security threats require a collective and comprehensive approach, and ECOWAS is committed to creating platforms for dialogue and action. The meeting in Abuja aimed to reflect on past commitments and set the agenda for future actions to achieve a more peaceful and resilient West Africa.
Key points
- ECOWAS emphasises the need for stronger regional cooperation to address complex security challenges.
- Sustainable peace requires a comprehensive approach focusing on people, prevention, and partnership.
- Greater participation by women, young people, minorities, and marginalised communities is crucial in peace and security discussions.
