ECOWAS at the 10th Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security in Africa
The 10th Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security in Africa, held on 20 and 21 April 2026 at the Abdou Diouf International Conference Centre (CICAD) in Diamniadio, was a major strategic event for the Economic Community of West African States. ECOWAS was represented at the highest level, with the participation of H.E. Dr Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, and H.E. Mrs Zelma Yollande Nobre Fassinou, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Senegal.
Faced with the security challenges shaking West Africa, ECOWAS reaffirmed at the Forum its central role in the regional peace and security architecture. Speaking at a plenary session on sovereignty, H.E. Dr Omar Alieu Touray presented an ambitious and structured vision for addressing common threats.
The President of the Commission highlighted the need to bring the region’s existing security mechanisms (G5 Sahel, the Accra Initiative, the Multinational Joint Task Force and UN operations) under the institutional umbrella of ECOWAS, to ensure a coordinated, coherent response that Member States truly own.
ECOWAS was represented at the highest level by eminent figures:
- H.E. Dr Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission
- H.E. Mr Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone and Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government
- H.E. Mrs Zelma Yollande Nobre Fassinou, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Senegal
This strong institutional presence reflects the commitment of ECOWAS to strategic thinking on the future of the African continent.
H.E. Dr Touray reaffirmed the pivotal role of the ECOWAS Standby Force in the fight against terrorism and security crises. The Heads of State and Government have approved its initial deployment with around 1,650 troops, to be gradually increased to 5,000. This scalable force will give ECOWAS a rapid, pooled response capacity suited to the range of threats facing the region.
On funding, the President of the Commission made a strong case for mobilising more domestic resources, in order to reduce external dependence and secure the long-term future of regional security operations. He also mentioned the progress made under UN Security Council Resolution 2719, while stressing the need for concrete and depoliticised implementation.
H.E. Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone and Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, delivered a strong message in favour of regional cohesion. In the face of the tensions and challenges shaking West Africa, he recalled the foundations of West African solidarity: geography, history and the deep human ties that unite the peoples of the region.
The Chairman stressed the crucial importance of preserving the common market of more than 400 million citizens and identified three priorities to offer real prospects to West African youth: developing vocational training, building connected transport infrastructure and effectively removing barriers to free movement. He also announced a special Summit on economic integration, scheduled for October 2026.
H.E. Mrs Zelma Yollande Nobre Fassinou, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Senegal, took part in the various sessions of the Forum alongside delegations from Member States and international partners. Her presence reflects the Resident Representation’s ongoing commitment to taking part in the major events that shape the future of the sub-region and to carrying the voice of ECOWAS in Senegalese public debate.
The Forum was also an opportunity for the Representation to strengthen its ties with the institutional, diplomatic and civil society actors present in Diamniadio, with a view to ever closer cooperation in the service of citizens across the Community.
