ECOWAS asserts regional stability and signs arms control deal

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has reaffirmed its position as the most stable regional economic bloc in Africa, despite ongoing threats from terrorism and violent extremism. The organization noted that its economic integration and regulatory frameworks remain resilient, even as insurgencies in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin disrupt agriculture, trade, and infrastructure.

This assessment comes amid diplomatic challenges, including the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from the bloc to form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). The departures threaten the free movement of goods and people, which are central to the ECOWAS treaty.

In a separate effort to address regional security, ECOWAS has signed an addendum to a 2009 Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) and the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC). Signed in Abuja, Nigeria, the agreement aims to strengthen cooperation on disarmament, arms control, non-proliferation, and armed conflict prevention. The partnership will focus on technical assistance, capacity-building, and information-sharing to respond to evolving security challenges in the region.