As ECOWAS marks its 50th anniversary, the regional organization stands at a critical juncture. Once regarded as a central actor in regional integration and crisis response in West Africa, ECOWAS is now navigating a rapidly evolving political and institutional landscape. The withdrawal of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), growing critiques of its governance frameworks, and the shifting nature of its external partnerships have prompted renewed reflection on its legitimacy, relevance, and future direction.
This webinar brings together a panel of experts and practitioners to reflect on the challenges and opportunities facing ECOWAS today. Against the backdrop of recent political upheavals and broader debates over regional security and governance, the discussion will explore ECOWAS’s evolving institutional practices, its normative commitments, and its financial and operational capacities. It will also consider the changing dynamics of international support and cooperation, particularly in light of ECOWAS’s long-standing relationship with the European Union. At a moment of both uncertainty and possibility, this conversation seeks to generate critical insights into how ECOWAS can adapt and respond to the demands of a shifting regional order. We will in particular ask how non-military aspects of ECOWAS interventions can be better understood and further strengthened.
The webinar will be co-organized and hosted in collaboration with the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC).
Panelists:
- Amb. Abdel-Fatau Musah, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security at the ECOWAS Commission
- Emma Birikorang, Director of Research of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC)
- Mona Saleh, Research Fellow at the Institute for Development and Peace (INEF), Duisburg-Essen University
Moderator: Christof Hartmann, Director of the Institute for Development and Peace (INEF), University of Duisburg-Essen.
When: 18 July 2025, 10am (GMT)
Where: Online via Zoom (with registration).