ECOWAS Peace and Security Department Navigates Leadership Transition Amidst West Africa’s Evolving Challenges

LAGOS, Nigeria – As West Africa continues to grapple with a complex mosaic of security threats, political instability, and governance challenges, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission’s Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) is convening a critical three-day retreat in Lagos from August 3 to 5, 2026. The gathering, themed “Positioning PAPS for Strategic Transition, Institutional Continuity and Emerging Peace & Security Challenges in the ECOWAS Region,” underscores a proactive effort to fortify regional stability amidst an impending leadership change.

The retreat serves as a vital strategic platform for PAPS to undertake an introspective review of its performance under the outgoing management. Participants are tasked with assessing achievements, documenting lessons learned, and identifying challenges over the past four years. Crucially, the meeting aims to streamline coordination across various Directorates, Divisions, and relevant ECOWAS institutions, ensuring a cohesive and effective response to the dynamic peace and security landscape across the 15-member bloc. Emphasis will also be placed on pinpointing innovative strategies for resource mobilization and programme implementation to bolster the Department’s operational effectiveness.

Dr. Danjuma AKU, Chairman of the Technical Organising Committee, highlighted the profound significance of this particular retreat. “This gathering represents a strategic opportunity for our staff and leadership to step back from daily routines, reflect on our journey, and identify practical measures to enhance ECOWAS’ peace and security mandate,” Dr. Aku stated. He further noted its importance as the final retreat under the current leadership team, emphasizing the need to consolidate institutional gains and forge a sustainable path for continued excellence and dedicated service to the region.

Echoing this sentiment, H.E. Amb. Abdel-Fatau MUSAH, PhD, in his opening remarks, stressed the retreat’s role in strengthening institutional continuity. He underscored the imperative of effectively positioning PAPS to respond to the region’s evolving peace, security, and governance challenges. Amb. Musah candidly described the event as “more than a routine departmental gathering; it is an opportunity for institutional reflection, accountability, and renewal.” He stressed the critical need to preserve and transmit the invaluable knowledge and experience accumulated over the past four years, ensuring the Department remains agile and effective in confronting escalating complexities.

The diverse assembly of participants includes all PAPS staff across various cadres, representatives from relevant Directorates within the ECOWAS Commission, and notably, the Force Commanders of the ECOWAS Stabilization Support Missions currently deployed in The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau. Their collective insights are crucial for formulating strategic recommendations that will guide the incoming management and enhance the Department’s long-term effectiveness in advancing the comprehensive ECOWAS peace and security agenda, aligned with the broader Community Strategic Framework and Vision 2050.

By the conclusion of the three-day deliberations, attendees are expected to emerge with a shared vision of the Department’s future strategic direction, informed by its past achievements and transition priorities. The retreat is poised to yield actionable recommendations designed to support the new leadership, strengthen institutional coordination and coherence, clarify operational priorities for emerging security threats, and robustly reinforce institutional memory and continuity. Ultimately, this strategic gathering reaffirms PAPS’s unwavering commitment to fostering peace, security, and good governance, vital pillars for West Africa’s progress and stability.