With the UN System

In accordance with its mandate, UNOWA promotes information-sharing and interlinkages among United Nations entities operating in West Africa on cross-border and regional threats to peace and security.

In order to enhance capability within West Africa towards a harmonized sub regional approach to peace and security, UNOWA holds regular meetings with heads of UN regional agencies in the sub region as well as consultations with the various regional organizations belonging or not to the UN system.  Taking into account their respective mandates, these meetings provide an opportunity for United Nations entities in the region to identify ways of addressing threats posed by cross-border organized crime and drug trafficking, human trafficking, climate change, terrorist activities and food insecurity with a focus on the Sahel.

The Special Representative for West Africa (SRSG)  is in permanent contact with the other heads of UN Peace missions in the sub region: MINUSMA in Mali, UNIOGBIS in Guinea Bissau, UNMIL in Liberia, UNOCI in Côte d’Ivoire*. He facilitates intermission cooperation by leading the high level meetings with heads of peace missions, UN Agencies and Regional Directors; by holding regular meetings of UN Force Commanders and Military Advisers at the military level; as well as regular meetings at the expert level (human rights, humanitarian, security sector, economic governance and gender issues).

• OUAGADOUGOU, BURKINA FASO 13 JANUARY 2015 - INAUGURAL MEETING OF INTERNATIONAL FOLLOW-UP AND SUPPORT GROUP FOR THE TRANSITION IN BURKINA FASO (EN) (FR)

• Dakar, May 9, 2014 - Twenty-sixth high-level meeting of Heads of UN Peace Mission in West Africa (EN)

• Dakar, November 29, 2013 - Twenty-fifth high-level meeting of Heads of UN Peace Mission in West Africa (EN)

• Dakar, October 08, 2012 - Twenty-fourth high-level meeting of Heads of UN Peace Missions in West Africa (EN) 

• Dakar, May 02, 2012 - Twenty third high‐level meeting of Heads of UN Peace Missions in West Africa (EN)

• Dakar, November 28, 2011 - Twenty second high-level meeting of Heads of UN Peace Missions in West Africa (EN / FR / PR)

• Dakar, May 28, 2011 - Twenty first high-level meeting of Heads of UN Peace Missions in West Africa (EN / FR)

• Dakar, February 28, 2011 - Twentieth high-level meeting of Heads of UN Peace Missions in West Africa (EN / FR)

• Dakar, April 12, 2011 - The UN in West Africa mobilizes for Côte d'Ivoire

• Dakar, September 29, 2010 - Nineteenth high-level meeting of Heads of UN Peace Missions in West Africa (EN / FR)

• Dakar, February 25, 2010 - Eighteen High-Level Meeting of Heads of United Nations Peace Missions in West Africa (EN / FR)

* United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), United Nations Integrated Peace-Building Office in Guinea-Bissau  (UNIOGBIS), UNMIL (United Nations Mission in Liberia), United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire  (UNOCI)

With Regional Organizations

Regional organizations are also prior partners for UNOWA to fulfill its mandate.

The office is officially appointed to enhance subregional capacities for conflict prevention, conflict management, mediation, and good offices, including providing support to existing subregional mechanisms, in particular the Conflict Prevention Framework, of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Community’s Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peacekeeping and Security.

Over the years, UNOWA has developed a close cooperation with ECOWAS and the African Union in a common objective to address the daunting challenge of establishing peace and security in the sub region. Through that close collaboration our three institutions have developed common and coherent positions and strategies to address some of the region’s most pressing problems, in particular unconstitutional changes of Government and other political crises such as in Guinea, Mauritania, Togo and Niger.

A joint programme of work has been developed by UNOWA and the ECOWAS Commission to address selected areas related to conflict prevention and Peacebuilding. It includes support to the ECOWAS Commission in implementing its comprehensive Strategic Conflict Prevention Framework as well as the ECOWAS Protocol related to the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peacekeeping and Security. UNOWA is currently assisting ECOWAS with the revision of its Protocol on democracy and good governance. UNOWA participates in various meetings and forums, such as ECOWAS summits and Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff.

UNOWA also has to facilitate the exchange of information and the sharing of best practices among national Governments, regional organizations, civil society and other entities.

24th AU Summit ends with strong call for women Empowerment in Africa

Addis Ababa, 31 January 2015 - The 24th Session of the Summit of the African Union has concluded in Addis Ababa today 31st January 2015, with a closing remarks from the newly elected Chairperson of the African Union, H.E Robert
Mugabe who is also the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe.
The AU Chairperson Expressed satisfaction to the adoption of the AU Agenda 2063 framework, “we have rededicated ourselves to the Pan-African ideals of our founding fathers for the Africa we want”. He said. President Mugabe called on the AU Members States to implement all the decisions adopted during the summit “as that is the only way for African states will leverage their resources for the benefits of their people”, Underlined President. Mugabe. He added that women and youth are the greatest asset for Africa. Hence the theme of this year’s summit: “women empowerment and development towards agenda 2063”.

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