Dakar, 14 October 2010 - Said Djinnit, the Special Representative of the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General for West Africa held a consultative meeting with James Victor Gbeho, the President of the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Abuja today.

They discussed the situation in West Africa with a particular focus on current crisis and possible joint initiatives to address them. They also extensively talked about the issue of drug trafficking and organized crime in West Africa. They agreed to convene and co-chair, in November, a meeting on the West Africa Coast Initiative (WACI), which was developed in collaboration with the UN and INTERPOL to support the implementation of the ECOWAS regional plan of action to combat drug trafficking and organized crime in the sub-region.

During his visit in Guinea , Said Djinnit met yesterday with the Interim President Sékouba Konaté and the two candidates for the Presidential election, Alpha Condé and Cellou Dalein Diallo. He encouraged them to continue ongoing dialogue to overcome remaining difficulties towards the holding of peaceful elections on 24 October 2010 and reiterated the support of the UN in this regard. The Special Representative also held consultations with other government officials and representatives of the International Contact Group on Guinea (ICG-G) in Conakry.

Said Djinnit is monitoring the developments in Niger closely. He is maintaining close consultations with ECOWAS and the African Union on this matter.