ECOWAS Unveils Landmark Publication on Three Decades of Peacekeeping Milestones

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ECOWAS Unveils Landmark Publication on Three Decades of Peacekeeping Milestones

…. Honours ECOMOG Heroes

The Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, has marked three decades of regional peacekeeping and peacebuilding by unveiling publications documenting its interventions across West Africa and honouring some of the people who served on the frontlines.

Launched in Abuja, the publications capture lessons from ECOWAS-led mediation, peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts, with the regional body saying they will help preserve institutional memory and guide responses to emerging security threats.

The initiative brings together experiences from past conflicts and interventions, offering policymakers, security agencies and other stakeholders insights into tackling terrorism, violent extremism and instability in the region.

Speaking at the event, stakeholders stressed the need to preserve the experiences of past peace missions, particularly as West Africa continues to confront new and complex security challenges.

Among those who attended were Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa; ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah; and ECOWAS Commissioner for Internal Services, Dr Habibu Bappah.

Also present were the Chair of the ECOWAS Permanent Representatives Committee, Ambassador Nicolas Auguste Nyouky; former ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Salamatu Suleiman; former Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; and Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Professor Eghosa Osaghae.

Representatives of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel, UNOWAS; West Africa Network for Peacebuilding, WANEP; West Africa Civil Society Institute, WACSI; Centre for Democracy and Development, CDD; academic institutions and former ECOWAS officials also participated.

A major highlight of the occasion was the recognition of former commanders and deputy commanders of the ECOWAS Monitoring Group, ECOMOG, as well as journalists who reported from the frontlines of West Africa’s civil wars.

ECOWAS said the honour was a way of preserving the memory of individuals whose sacrifices and professional contributions helped shape the region’s peace and security architecture.

The regional body says the publications will serve as a repository of lessons from its peacekeeping, peacemaking and peacebuilding missions, while helping future generations understand the challenges, sacrifices and achievements behind West Africa’s peace efforts.

ECOWAS says preserving these experiences is critical to strengthening regional cooperation and developing more effective responses to terrorism, violent extremism and other emerging threats.