The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) launched a three-day workshop in Abuja this week to strengthen regional efforts linking governance, human rights, and early warning systems.
Held from April 15 to 17, 2025, the event brought together governance analysts, policymakers, and international partners to refine strategies for mitigating crises across West Africa.
Organized by ECOWAS’s Early Warning Directorate, the workshop forms part of the bloc’s broader Peace, Security and Governance project, funded by the European Union and Germany. Participants included representatives from member states’ national crisis response centers, the ECOWAS Parliament, the African Union Commission (AUC), and the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS).
Dr. Onyinye Nkechi Onwuka, acting director of the ECOWAS Early Warning Directorate, opened the session by emphasizing the critical role of governance during crises. “Governance is not a luxury in times of peace—it is a frontline concern in times of crisis,” she said, urging member states to prioritize data-driven decision-making. Germany’s deputy head of cooperation, Lea Smidt, echoed the call, stressing the need to translate early warnings into preventive policies to counter threats to regional stability.
UNOWAS representative Sa’adatu Shuaibu highlighted the importance of modernizing early warning indicators to align with current political dynamics, noting that such updates are essential to achieving ECOWAS’s long-term Vision 2050 goals. Meanwhile, the African Union’s Osei Baffoe-Fimpong underscored inclusive governance, particularly the protection of women’s and youth rights, as foundational to democratic resilience.
Over three days, attendees engaged in technical sessions focused on improving cross-border coordination and integrating early warning insights into national frameworks. Peer exchanges allowed member states to share challenges and best practices, such as balancing security concerns with civil liberties during emergencies.
The workshop reflects ECOWAS’s intensified focus on preemptive action amid rising regional instability, including coups, extremist violence, and political transitions. While the bloc has historically relied on diplomatic or military interventions during crises, this initiative signals a shift toward addressing root causes, such as governance gaps and institutional fragility. Recent AU data shows that over 60% of conflicts in West Africa since 2020 stemmed from governance failures, underscoring the urgency of these efforts. International partners view the collaboration as a test case for aligning regional early warning systems with global peacebuilding frameworks, particularly the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
