The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission have released a joint communiqué after the official visit of Mr. Adedeji Ebo, Director and Deputy to the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs at the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), to ECOWAS Headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria.
According to both organizations, this visit highlighted ongoing cooperation between UNODA—through its regional center UNREC—and ECOWAS on matters related to disarmament, arms control, and peace and security in West Africa. The visit included strategic meetings with ECOWAS President Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Ambassador Dr. Abdel-Fatau Musah, as well as senior leadership from the Department of Political Affairs Peace and Security.
During these discussions, officials reviewed the 2009 ECOWAS-UNODA Memorandum of Understanding with an aim to update it in response to current peace and security challenges in West Africa. They addressed advancing implementation of the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) while considering threats such as illicit arms flows, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), cybersecurity risks, artificial intelligence (AI), drones, and autonomous weapons systems.
A joint UNREC–ECOWAS workshop focused on gender mainstreaming in small arms control was also held during the visit. This event aimed to increase awareness about gender-specific issues within SALW control programs and encourage youth participation.
Both organizations agreed to look into expanding the mandate of the ECOWAS Small Arms Division beyond small arms and light weapons. They reaffirmed their support for strengthening regional frameworks like the ECOWAS Convention on SALW, Nairobi Protocol, and African Union’s Silencing the Guns initiative through improved coordination and technical assistance efforts.
Mr. Ebo said: “Mr. Ebo commended ECOWAS Commission for its leadership in promoting peace and disarmament across the region and reiterated UNODA’s commitment to supporting ECOWAS Member States in building technical capacity, reinforcing legal frameworks, and advancing inclusive, evidence-based policy responses.”
Dr. Musah emphasized that rising terrorism along with intercommunal violence underscore why arms control remains a priority: “Dr. Musah cited the expanding terrorism in the region, as well as intercommunal violence and banditry as phenomena that highlight the imperative of heightened arms control as a priority.” Both Mr Ebo and Dr Musah restated their commitment to fully implementing provisions within the Convention related to cross-border cooperation on arms control measures.
UNODA expressed readiness through UNREC to help review updates needed for adapting SALW regulations based on new developments including ammunition trafficking trends or advances in technology affecting weapon systems management.
The parties recognized that keeping regulatory frameworks up-to-date is necessary due to changes like cyber-enabled illegal arms flows or science-driven innovation affecting weaponization practices.
In conclusion: “Both entities agreed to strengthen joint operations and advocacy, while exploring innovative strategies to integrate disarmament into broader peacebuilding and sustainable development agendas in West Africa.”