ECOWAS, UN deepen diplomatic ties to tackle West Africa’s security, democratic challenges

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the United Nations have deepened diplomatic engagement aimed at addressing West Africa’s growing security threats and governance challenges.

This was made known during a meeting held on June 26, 2025, at the ECOWAS Permanent Observer Mission to the UN in New York, where ambassadors from ECOWAS member states and top UN officials convened to reinforce cooperation on peacebuilding, conflict prevention, and institutional reforms across the sub-region.

This was just as Michael Imran Kanu, Sierra Leone’s Permanent Representative to the UN, assumed leadership with a pledge to drive “collaborative vigor and forward-looking engagement” during his tenure.

“I am deeply honored by the confidence reposed in Sierra Leone. Together, we will continue to strengthen our regional bonds and advance a unified front on the global stage”, Kanu said in his acceptance speech.

In her opening remarks, Kinza Jawara-Njai, ECOWAS Permanent Observer to the UN, welcomed members and underscored ECOWAS’ unwavering dedication to regional integration, democratic governance, and international cooperation.

According to Jawara-Njai meeting’s agenda featured an in-depth review of key developments in the ECOWAS region, with emphasis on security threats, democratic transitions, and climate challenges that continue to test the resilience of member states.

The discussion also reflected on the outcomes of the recently held 67th Ordinary Summit of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government.

Participants agreed on the need to bolster collective diplomatic strength and ensure regional priorities are fully aligned with the United Nations’ broader peace and development architecture.

A major diplomatic highlight of the event was a consultative session hosted in partnership with the United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO), specifically its West Africa Division (WAD).

The session, chaired by Martha Pobee, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, brought together key ambassadors from across the region for strategic dialogue on critical UN policies and reforms.

Deliberations focused on the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2719, the evolving UN80 Reforms, and the volatile security environment in the Sahel and broader West African region.

Pobee reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to deepening collaboration with African regional organizations. She emphasized the importance of sustained global engagement in reinforcing democratic institutions, conflict prevention, and supporting countries in transition.

“The UN80 Reforms are designed to help the United Nations respond more nimbly and effectively to today’s complex global challenges, especially in dynamic regions like West Africa,” Pobee noted.

During the consultations, Jawara-Njai provided an update on the ECOWAS @50 commemorations, a milestone reflecting the organization’s five decades of promoting unity, stability, and development.

She highlighted ongoing efforts to operationalize Resolution 2719, which aims to deepen the partnership between the UN and African regional entities in peace operations and crisis response.

The engagements concluded with a united call for deeper coordination between ECOWAS and the United Nations in confronting transnational threats, supporting democratic governance, and sustaining peace across the sub-region.

“West Africa is not just managing its challenges  it is actively redefining its future and asserting its place in the global multilateral system,” Kanu affirmed.