The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), H.E. Mr. Leonardo Santos Simão, met on February 13, 2026, with ECOWAS Permanent Observer to the United Nations, H.E. Ambassador Kinza Jawara-Njai, and Mr. Kalilu Totangi, Deputy Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone to the UN representing the Chair of the ECOWAS Group at the United Nations.
The main focus of their meeting was on the renewal of UNOWAS’s mandate, which expired on January 31, 2026. The matter is currently being reviewed by the United Nations Security Council.
Mr. Simão provided an update on ongoing negotiations within the Security Council, detailing major topics under discussion and explaining procedural steps toward concluding the renewal process. The participants also addressed current socio-political and security conditions in West Africa and highlighted the need for ongoing preventive diplomacy and coordinated efforts in response to regional developments.
Ambassador Kinza Jawara-Njai stated: “ECOWAS reaffirms its unalloyed support for the renewal of the UNOWAS mandate, underscoring the importance of maintaining a strong and flexible mandate that advances preventive diplomacy and strengthens regional partnership.”
Mr. Kalilu Totangi added: “On behalf of the Group, we reiterate our support and emphasize the continued relevance of UNOWAS as the principal United Nations political mission in West Africa.”
Both sides confirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation between ECOWAS and the United Nations to promote peace, security, governance, and sustainable development across West Africa. They emphasized sustained coordination and strengthened institutional collaboration as necessary measures to address new challenges facing member states.
ECOWAS works to enhance cooperation among its member countries by harmonizing policies in trade, transport, agriculture, and social development sectors with a goal to improve living standards and foster stability throughout West Africa (official website). The Commission is led by a president with support from a vice president and commissioners (official website). In 2022, ECOWAS launched a multilingual website aimed at increasing accessibility and transparency regarding its activities (official website). The organization runs programs that serve twelve West African nations but aims for broader regional impact (official website). ECOWAS also influences policy by harmonizing economic, trade, legal systems—particularly in infrastructure and social development—among member states (official website), holding authority under its treaty to align frameworks using mechanisms like common external tariffs (official website).