The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Wednesday officially opened the 44th Session of its Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) at the Bintumani International Conference Centre in Freetown, calling for renewed unity, stronger collective action against emerging security threats and accelerated regional integration.
The high-level gathering brought together Ambassadors, Permanent Representatives and senior ECOWAS officials to review the region’s political, peace and security agenda while laying the groundwork for key decisions by the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
Welcoming delegates to Sierra Leone, the country’s High Commissioner to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and ECOWAS, Dr. Julius F. Sandy, described the hosting of the session as a significant demonstration of ECOWAS’ commitment to bringing its institutions closer to the people and reinforcing regional ownership of the integration process.
He said the decision to convene the meeting in Freetown reflected the Community’s determination to build a people-centred institution capable of responding to the aspirations and challenges of West Africans while strengthening its visibility across Member States.
Dr. Sandy noted that Freetown was an appropriate venue for the meeting because of its unique historical contribution to West Africa’s political, intellectual and cultural development. He recalled that as the former capital of British West Africa, the city played a pivotal role in shaping the region’s history and was home to Fourah Bay College, the first university in sub-Saharan Africa, which earned Sierra Leone the title of the “Athens of West Africa.”
He also highlighted Sierra Leone’s historical milestones, including hosting some of West Africa’s earliest railway infrastructure, newspapers and international aviation facilities, while recalling the country’s enduring legacy as a refuge for liberated Africans following the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade.
According to Dr. Sandy, that legacy continues to inspire Sierra Leone’s commitment to justice, peace, human dignity and regional cooperation.
Turning to the state of the regional bloc, he acknowledged that although ECOWAS has recorded remarkable achievements since its establishment, it continues to face evolving political, humanitarian, economic and security challenges that demand stronger cooperation among Member States and renewed commitment to the Community’s founding principles of unity, solidarity and peaceful coexistence.
He described the Permanent Representatives Committee as a vital link between Member States and the ECOWAS Commission, responsible for examining reports, reviewing policy proposals and making recommendations that inform decisions of the Authority of Heads of State and Government.
Dr. Sandy urged delegates to conduct their deliberations with openness, objectivity and collaboration, expressing confidence that the outcomes of the session would further strengthen ECOWAS institutions and advance regional integration. He concluded by welcoming participants on behalf of the Government and people of Sierra Leone and encouraged them to experience the country’s renowned hospitality and rich cultural heritage.
Also addressing the opening ceremony, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, speaking on behalf of the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, warned that West Africa stands at a defining moment where democratic progress is increasingly threatened by complex security and governance challenges.
The Commissioner said the region continues to grapple with terrorism, violent extremism, transnational organized crime, maritime insecurity, unconstitutional changes of government, intercommunal conflicts, climate-related pressures and economic fragility, all of which require a coordinated regional response.
He commended the Government and people of Sierra Leone for hosting the meeting and praised Member States and Permanent Representatives for their continued commitment to promoting peace, democracy and regional integration.
While acknowledging recent democratic gains through successful elections, constitutional reforms and peaceful political transitions, he cautioned that those achievements remain fragile without sustained collective efforts to safeguard regional stability.
The Commissioner described the meeting’s agenda as timely and strategic, noting that delegates would deliberate on the region’s evolving political and security landscape, preventive diplomacy and preparations for the activation of the ECOWAS Counterterrorism Force, which leaders have directed should be deployed to strengthen the bloc’s response to terrorist threats.
He also highlighted the growing financial pressures confronting ECOWAS peace operations, revealing that the ECOWAS Stabilisation Mission in Guinea-Bissau has cost more than US$44.6 million since 2022, while the mission in The Gambia has exceeded US$174.7 million since its deployment in 2017.
In addition, he disclosed that the Commission faces outstanding reimbursement obligations exceeding US$116 million owed to troop- and police-contributing countries, warning that these financial constraints must be addressed to enable the planned deployment of the ECOWAS Counterterrorism Brigade by 2027.
Beyond military interventions, the Commissioner stressed that human security must remain central to ECOWAS’ agenda, citing humanitarian crises, conflict-induced displacement and climate-related shocks as pressing regional concerns. He also underscored the importance of sustaining election observation missions and strengthening the ECOWAS Early Warning and Response Mechanism to improve conflict prevention and timely responses to emerging threats.
Reflecting on what he described as his final Ambassadorial session as Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, he reviewed key achievements recorded during his four-year tenure, including mediation efforts during political crises, support for democratic transitions, strengthening governance institutions, reinforcing the ECOWAS Council of the Wise, expanding election observation missions and advancing the operationalisation of the ECOWAS Logistics Depot.
He further highlighted the activation of the ECOWAS Standby Force in its kinetic mode to confront terrorism, the establishment of the ECOWAS Maritime Security Architecture, implementation of the West African Police Information System (WAPIS) and the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS), as well as strengthened regional efforts to combat the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.
Looking ahead, the Commissioner said preparations are at an advanced stage for the Special Summit on the Future of Regional Integration in West Africa, scheduled for 19 July 2026, where leaders are expected to adopt the Compact of the Future, a strategic framework intended to guide the next phase of ECOWAS integration.
He also pointed to the successful Third Joint Consultative Meeting between the African Union Peace and Security Council and the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council as evidence of strengthening cooperation between continental and regional institutions.
Concluding his remarks, the Commissioner thanked Member States, ambassadors and development partners for their support throughout his tenure and appealed for the same cooperation to be extended to his successor.
He reaffirmed that the future of West Africa depends on unity, solidarity and sustained collaboration, urging Member States to remain committed to building a peaceful, democratic, secure and prosperous region for the benefit of all citizens.
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