ECOWAS, EU, Germany collaborate to address security threats in West Africa
The Economic of West African States(ECOWAS) Commission, in partnership with the European Union(EU) and Germany on the ‘ECOWAS Peace and Security Architecture and Operations (EPSAO)’ project in a quest to prevent and manage conflicts and security threats in West Africa.

The ECOWAS Commission, in collaboration with the European Union and Germany, successfully co-organised the 5th Steering Committee Meeting (SCM) for the EPSAO project on October 31, 2023. The EPSAO project, an initiative by ECOWAS, aims to support the Commission in its mandate to prevent and manage conflicts and security threats in West Africa.

Attended by representatives from the three organizations, the meeting combined both physical and virtual participation to ensure inclusivity in decision-making processes. Acting as the ultimate decision-making authority for the project, the committee deliberated on strategies and provided crucial guidance to ensure the alignment of interventions with objectives.

Mrs. Celine Hoste, Co-chair of the meeting and representative of the European Union, expressed her appreciation for the contributions made by all stakeholders. She underscored the urgency of addressing transnational crime in West Africa and emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts among the organizations for global peace. Mrs. Hoste reiterated the European Union’s commitment to supporting the promotion of a robust peace and security architecture in the ECOWAS region.

Mrs. Susanne SCHRÖDER, Head of Cooperation and representative of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Nigeria reaffirmed the German government’s dedication to promoting peace and security in the region through the EPSAO project.

She highlighted the significance of the German Chancellor’s visit to the ECOWAS Commission as a strong symbol of cooperation and partnership between Germany and ECOWAS.Dr. Sintiki T. Ugbe, Director of Humanitarian and Social Affairs, expressed gratitude on behalf of the ECOWAS Commission to the European Union and Germany for their strong partnership. Dr. Ugbe acknowledged the significant security challenges in the region and emphasized the importance of reinforcing collaboration for sustainable peace and security. She emphasized the progress made through the EPSAO project, particularly in terms of security sector reform, which has yielded concrete deliverables.

The results and recommendations discussed during the meeting will be documented in a report that will be presented to the ECOWAS Commission management.