The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) recently conducted a high-level training course on peace negotiation and mediation for its senior officials. The event took place from October 28 to November 1, 2024, in The Hague, Netherlands. It was organized by the Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security of the ECOWAS Commission under Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah's leadership, in collaboration with the Clingendael Institute of the Netherlands.
Eighteen participants attended this five-day training session. They included members of the Mediation and Security Council at ambassadorial level, Resident Representatives of the President of the ECOWAS Commission in Member States and multilateral organizations, the ECOWAS Council of Elders, and senior ECOWAS staff.
This initiative is part of a long-standing partnership between the ECOWAS Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It falls under the "Clingendael Peace Negotiation Programme," which began in 2015 to enhance regional capacity in conflict prevention and resolution.
The programme aimed to provide an understanding of negotiation and mediation concepts, tools, and skills. It also offered participants a chance for individual and collective brainstorming, experience sharing, and an in-depth analysis of ECOWAS peacemaking efforts in the region. This included scenario building exercises.
Throughout the training period, attendees enhanced their knowledge of peace negotiation and mediation processes. They shared best practices in mediation support, identified gaps, learned lessons from past experiences, and proposed recommendations to improve future peace mediation interventions within the ECOWAS region.
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