The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) plan to consolidate their relations and expand the traditional areas of their cooperation.

This is the quintessence of the courtesy visit that UNDP Resident Representative and Coordinator of the UN System in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, paid to the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Marcel de Souza on Friday, 17 March 2017, in Abuja.

The two personalities highlighted the interest of their institutions in reinforcing their cooperation in the areas of climate change, the fight against the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, as well as humanitarian assistance to 2.5 million children suffering from chronic malnutrition in Maiduguri and victims of the atrocities of the Islamic group Boko Haram in northern Nigeria.

Mr. de Souza and Mr. Kallon also discussed initiatives to better ensure peace and security in West Africa, consolidate regional integration in order to effectively combat poverty, and to further combat terrorism in all its forms.

Regarding terrorism, the President of the Commission informed his guest of the current critical security situation in Mali and the forthcoming forum on the strategy to be implemented to address the insecurity and terrorism within the Community.

“If nothing is done in Mali, the security situation will escalate and destabilize the other ECOWAS Member States. In this country, we do not need a peacekeeping force, but a peace enforcement force; because peace must be made before we can keep the peace,” Marcel de Souza said.

He declared ECOWAS’ willingness to set up a 5,000-man strong force to deal with terrorists who commit many atrocities in West Africa.

He also discussed the situation in The Gambia with the UNDP Resident Representative. The situation includes the defense and security sector reform, the boosting of the national economy with the creation of a contact group for the organisation of a round table on the issue, and the establishment of a Framework (National Peace Council) to promote national unity among Gambians.

“We have restored peace in The Gambia after the 22-year rule of the former president; but it is now that the hardest begins. The cost of the intervention and the maintenance of the ECOWAS troops in the country is enormous”, concluded Marcel de Souza.

The issue of the upcoming presidential election in Sierra Leone was also discussed by the President of the Commission and the UNDP Resident Representative. Marcel de Souza welcomed the order convening the electoral body which was issued by the Sierra Leonean Head of State, Ernest Bai Koroma. He expressed hope that the voting would be properly conducted and there would be no bloodshed.

In addition to the UN Representative, Marcel de Souza also met with Natasha Kofoworola Quist, Senior Advisor for West Africa and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The meeting focused on the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ECOWAS and the Foundation on the one hand, and on the other hand, the latter’s invitation to Marcel de Souza and the President of Liberia and ECOWAS Chairperson, Ms. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, to visit Seattle, USA, to make a presentation on the West African organisation.

The President of the Commission also held a meeting with the Swiss Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the regional organisation, Eric Mayoraz, with whom he signed a letter of intent to strengthen collaboration between ECOWAS and Switzerland.