The ECOWAS Directorate of Peacekeeping and Regional Security (DPKRS), through its Peace Support Operations Division (PSOD), is conducting its Third Annual ECOWAS Civilian Focal Points and Training Centres of Excellence (TCEs) Meeting from September 24 to 26, 2024, in Conakry, Republic of Guinea. The event aims to improve the knowledge of focal points regarding the civilian dimension of the ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF) and the ECOWAS civilian standby capacity roster.
The opening ceremony was attended by Ambassador Elhadji Ibrahima Diallo, Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and Guineans Abroad. His Excellency Louis-Blaise Aka-Brou, Resident Representative of ECOWAS in the Republic of Guinea, was represented by Mr. Salifu Illiasu, Political Adviser. Illiasu emphasized the timeliness and relevance of the meeting: “considering that little is known about the civilian dimension of the ESF.”
Dr. Adamu Sani, Acting Head of PSOD, represented the Directorate of Peacekeeping and Regional Security. Participants included Mr. Bekaye Coulibaly, Head of the Civilian Component; staff from PSOD; and identified civilian focal points from fifteen ECOWAS Member States such as Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. The West African Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) and various Training Centres of Excellence (TCEs) were also present.
