L-R Dr. Agnekethom, Director, DPKRS, Gen. Behanzin, Commissioner of Political Affairs, Peace and Security,

The 30th Ordinary Session of the Mediation and Security Council at the Ambassadorial Level of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) held on, 3rd June 2019 at the ECOWAS Commission Headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria.

Top on the agenda of the meeting is the consideration of the memorandum on the political as well as the security situation in the region. The Council also considered a memorandum on the issuance of ECOWAS Exemption Certificate by the President of the Commission in case of “extreme” emergency.

Speaking at the opening, Gen. Francis Awagbè Béhanzin, the Commissioner of Political Affairs, Peace and Security of the ECOWAS Commission highlighted the need of the Council to consider carefully the political and security situations in the region, as political and security stability are key to economic development.
Commissioner Béhanzin appealed to the ambassadors not to deter in their efforts towards combating insecurity and instability in the Region.

L-R Gen. Behanzin, Commissioner of Political Affairs, Peace and Security and H.E. Amb. Babatunde Nurudeen

During his opening remarks, Ambassador Babatunde Nurudeen, Nigeria Permanent Representative to ECOWAS and Chair of the Mediation and Security Council at the Ambassadorial Level expressed satisfaction at the positive successes recorded in the Region as far as peace and security is concerned despite security challenges and threats in some member States.

Cross Section of Participants

He encouraged members of the Council to review the situations in the Memoranda presented to them by the ECOWAS Commission and make recommendations to the Mediation and Security Council at the Ministerial Level to achieve peace and security in the Region.

Group Photograph