The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has continued in its efforts towards the realization of Peace and Security in the region by convening its 24th Ordinary Session of the Mediation and Security Council at the Ambassadorial level.

In the opening remarks delivered by Dr Antoinette Weeks, Commissioner for Infrastructure, on behalf of the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Mrs. Halima Ahmed stated that ‘despite the strides made in the year 2015, a number of challenges still persist’.

‘Difficulties related to the Peace Accords implementation in Mali, insecurity in the northern part of Nigeria and the Lake Chad basin with recurrent attacks from the Boko Haram terror group remains a problem that we continue to grapple with’ , she said.

Also, during the opening ceremony of the one day Meeting which held on 4^th May 2016 in Abuja, His Excellency Baboucar Sambe, Ambassador of the Republic of Senegal and Chairman of the Mediation and Security Council at the Ambassadorial level, reiterated that, security challenges still exist in the region and urged Member States to pull their resources together to address them.The Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives to ECOWAS were given a detailed briefing on the Political and Security situation in Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Guinea Bissau and Mali as well as the growing menace of transhumance in the region.

Furthermore, they were informed on the status of the implementation of the National Early Warning and Response Mechanism (NEWRMs) and intimated with steps taken to improve maritime security and the post-assessment of the Amani Africa Excercise II.

The Meeting was preparatory to the 36^th Ordinary Meeting of the Mediation and Security Council of Ministers scheduled to hold on the 12^th May 2016 in Dakar.Also in attendance of the Mediation and Security Council meeting was the ECOWAS Director of Political Affairs, Dr.Remi Ajibewa, the Director of Peace Keeping and Regional Security, Dr.Cyriaque Agnekethom and ECOWAS staff.