Lomé, 7 July 2018. The political and security situation in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will be the main focus of the 40^th ordinary session of the Mediation and Security Council (MSC) at ministerial level, which opened on 7 July 2018 in Lomé, Togo.

The meeting, which was held behind closed doors, was presided over by the Togolese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and African Integration, and Chair of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council at ministerial level, Prof Robert Dussey.

He was joined by Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, President of the ECOWAS Commission, and Francis Awagbè Béhanzin, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security.

During deliberations, participants will discuss a wide range of issues, including political developments in some Member States, ECOWAS Missions in Guinea Bissau (ECOMIB) and The Gambia (ECOMIG), establishment of Maritime Zones F and G, operationalisation of ECOWAS Multinational Maritime Coordination Centres, as well as transhumance.

The MSC, which is made up of ECOWAS Member States’ Ministers of Foreign Affairs and of Defence, is also expected to endorse the report of the MSC meeting at ambassadorial level.

The report was presented to participants by Léné Dimban, the Togolese Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, and Chairman of the Mediation and Security Council at ambassadorial level.

MSC members will equally consider an item on ECOWAS National Early Warning Centres.

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