The 43rd Meeting of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council (MSC) at the Ambassadorial level was held on Thursday at the ECOWAS Commission Headquarters in Abuja, bringing together Permanent Representatives of Member States, Directors of the Commission, and officials from the Political Affairs, Peace and Security, and Early Warning Directorates.

The Council assessed the current state of democracy, political and security developments, and the humanitarian situation across West Africa.

It also received updates on the operationalisation of National Early Warning and Response Centres and reviewed preparations for the forthcoming Special Summit on the Future of Regional Integration in West Africa.

Delivering remarks on behalf of the President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Dr Omar Alieu Touray, the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Amb. Abdel-Fatau Musah drew attention to the deteriorating security situation in the region.

He urged the Council to prioritise the activation of the regional counter-terrorism force, noting that the funding modalities, based on the region’s own resources, had already been approved.

In his opening statement, the Chair of the MSC and Sierra Leone’s Permanent Representative to Nigeria, H.E. Julius Sandy, highlighted the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from ECOWAS, as well as rising insecurity, governance concerns, and worsening humanitarian conditions.

He stressed that these developments demand an urgent, coordinated, and collective response from the regional bloc.

The meeting forms part of continuing efforts by ECOWAS to reinforce political stability, enhance regional security cooperation, and safeguard the integration project amid evolving challenges.