UNOWA
United Nations Office for West Africa

Closure of UNOWA

The United Nations Office for West Africa (UNOWA) was established in January 2002 to promote political stability in the region. Its mandate ended in January 2016, when it merged with the Office of the Special Envoy for the Sahel (OSES) to form the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS).

SRSG Mohamed Ibn Chambas briefing to Security Council on UNOWA activities

Special Representative Mohammed Ibn Chambas. UN Photo

New York - I am pleased to be here today to brief you on the situation in West Africa and the implementation of UNOWA’s mandate. Further to the 16th report of the Secretary-General on the activities of the United Nations Office for West Africa (UNOWA), which is before you, I would like to highlight a few issues and update you on the most recent developments. In the last six months, there were a number of key political developments in West Africa. Peaceful and credible elections were held in several countries.