Regional integration, West Africa’s economic development, as well as peace, security and stability in the Community were the main issues discussed by Senegalese Head of State Macky Sall and the President of the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Jean-Claude Kassi Brou.

The discussions took place on 9 April 2018, on the occasion of the ECOWAS Commission President’s visit to Dakar, Senegal, from 8 to 10 April 2018.

Mr Brou also briefed the Senegalese President on his missions and major projects for the West African organisation.

In addition to Macky Sall, Mr Brou met the Senegalese Minister for African Integration, New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and La Francophonie, Mbagnick Ndiaye, as well as the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad, Sidiki Kaba.

While in the Senegalese capital, the Commission President and his entourage paid a visit to the Intergovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA).

Exchanges with GIABA staff afforded Jean-Claude Kassi Brou an insight into the achievements of the ECOWAS institution created in 2000 and responsible for building Member States’ capacity in the prevention and fight against money laundering and terrorism financing in the region.

“We cannot effectively combat money laundering and terrorism financing in a financial system unless there is a harmonised and standardised mechanism to prevent illicit activities from flourishing in the financial system, hampering development and growth, and preventing economies and society from collapse ,” Mr Brou explained.

In his view, there is a need to enhance GIABA’s activities and scope, update regulatory mechanisms, and encourage cooperation among ECOWAS Member States through National Financial Intelligence Units.

“I would like to commend you for all you have done. As far as the Commission is concerned, we will give you all the support you need to achieve the set objectives”, he pledged.

He encouraged staff to work in a spirit of continuity with the new Director-General of GIABA, Kimelabalou Aba, who assumed office on 1 March 2018.

After GIABA, Mr Brou and his delegation were in the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre (EGDC), a specialised agency of the Commission created in 2003, with the mandate to initiate, coordinate and facilitate capacity building, develop and manage programmes for women and men on gender equality and equity in ECOWAS integration programmes.

It was an opportunity for Jean-Claude Kassi Brou to appraise the various achievements of EGDC in ECOWAS Member States with regard to gender policy in West Africa.

The achievements include the West African girls’ excellence scholarship programme, economic empowerment through support for women involved in processing of agricultural, fishery and handicraft products, and the fight against obstetric fistula.

This has been achieved through the implementation of guidelines and strategies under the ECOWAS gender policy, as well as through the different women’s networks created by EGDC, in particular the Network of Women Parliamentarians, the West African Network of Young Women Leaders (ROAJELF), and the ECOWAS Women’s Peace and Security Network (REPSFECO).

It should be noted that during his visit to the Senegalese capital, the ECOWAS Commission President was accompanied by the Commissioner for Social Affairs and Gender, Dr Siga Fatima Jagne, and the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Gen. Francis Awagbè Béhanzin.