The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has moved to preserve more than three decades of regional peacekeeping experience, unveiling a series of strategic publications documenting the lessons, successes and challenges of its interventions across West Africa.
The regional bloc also honoured former commanders and deputy commanders of the ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG), as well as journalists who reported from the frontlines of some of the region’s most devastating civil wars.
The publications were unveiled in Abuja at a high-level gathering of policymakers, military and security experts, diplomats, academics, civil society organisations and development partners.
ECOWAS said the publications would serve as an institutional repository of knowledge for policymakers, security agencies, researchers and development partners, helping them draw lessons from past interventions to tackle emerging security threats.
The initiative comes amid growing insecurity across West Africa, particularly in the Sahel, where terrorism, violent extremism and political instability continue to threaten regional peace.
Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, was among prominent participants at the event.
Also present were ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah; Commissioner for Internal Services, Dr Wakiby Bappah; and Chairman of the ECOWAS Permanent Representatives Committee, Ambassador Nicolas Auguste Nyouky.
Representatives of the ECOWAS Permanent Representatives Committee from Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, The Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Togo also attended.
Former ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Salamatu Suleiman; former Ekiti State Governor and founder of the Amandla Institute for Policy and Leadership Advancement, Dr Kayode Fayemi; and Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, were also at the event.
Representatives of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel, West Africa Network for Peacebuilding, West Africa Civil Society Institute and Centre for Democracy and Development participated in the discussions.
ECOWAS said the publications were designed to preserve institutional knowledge accumulated from its peace interventions, mediation efforts and peacebuilding initiatives over more than 30 years.
The documents capture experiences from the bloc’s responses to conflicts and instability and are expected to support evidence-based decision-making in dealing with contemporary and emerging security challenges.
Participants examined ways of strengthening institutional learning and regional cooperation as West Africa battles terrorism, violent extremism, political instability and other complex threats.
ECOMOG veterans honoured
A major highlight of the event was the recognition of former ECOMOG commanders and deputy commanders who played key roles in regional peacekeeping operations.
ECOWAS paid tribute to the officers for their sacrifices and contributions to efforts to restore peace and stability in conflict-affected countries.
ECOMOG was deployed in several West African countries during periods of civil war and political crisis, becoming a major instrument of the region’s collective security response.
The regional body said documenting the experiences of those missions would ensure that valuable operational lessons are not lost and can guide future peace-support operations.
Journalists who covered the conflicts from the frontlines were also honoured for documenting the realities of war, the suffering of civilians and the efforts of peacekeepers and mediators.
The recognition, ECOWAS said, acknowledged the important role of journalism in preserving historical records and drawing public attention to the human consequences of armed conflicts.
Participants stressed that sustainable peace would require stronger cooperation among governments, regional institutions, security agencies, civil society organisations, researchers and international development partners.
ECOWAS said the new publications would strengthen the use of evidence and institutional memory in conflict prevention, mediation, peacebuilding and regional security.
The regional body said the initiative demonstrated its determination to learn from past experiences while equipping West Africa to respond more effectively to the security threats of the future.
