Gambia, Mali, Guinea and Guinea-Bissau – ECOWAS to Brief UN P5 Political and Military Advisors

The Gambia situation is among several issues ECOWAS intends to discuss with Military Advisors of the Diplomatic Corps of Permanent Member Countries of United Nations Security Council (UN P5) on September 27th, 2021.

The ECOWAS Political Affairs Directorate will therefore brief the Political/Military Advisors about the August 2020 coup in Mali, the September 5th, 2021 takeover in Guinea, the stalled constitutional reforms linked to the political processes in The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau.

According to the ECOWAS Political Affairs Directorate, the meeting will be a virtual conference to trigger a robust discussion. The purpose is to elicit responses and informed perspectives for the ECOWAS and the diplomatic community in addressing the region’s political, peace, and security challenges. Ultimately, it will also provide updates on the political developments in the West African region.

The conferees will also adopt the report of their last meeting, which was held on March 30th, 2021, within the context of the dynamic political and security environment, even as the West African region contends with security issues and political transitions in some member states.

The ECOWAS Member States are currently facing security challenges in an upsurge in terrorist attacks, including Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, with reported recent attacks in Northern Cote d’Ivoire. Other political instabilities of significant concerns are the Mali and Guinea situation and The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau.

Through its Mediation and Coordination of Regional Political Affairs (MCRPA) Division in the Political Affairs Directorate, ECOWAS seeks to strengthen inter-institutional collaboration on issues relating to peace and security with the United Nations, African Union, European Union, and other international partners.

The Division also supports the political and mediation processes in the Member States and provides regular political and security briefings to ECOWAS Ambassadors, Development Partners, and sister Directorates of ECOWAS.