ECOWAS President calls for stronger commitment to peace agreements in Africa 

Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, has called for greater commitment, accountability, and trust in Africa’s peace agreements. Speaking at a high-level meeting organized by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Chatham House on the sidelines of the 38th African Union (AU) Summit,  Touray emphasized the need for all parties to honour their commitments and for institutions to be empowered to enforce agreements when breached.

Themed “Processes in Africa: Prospects for Sustainable Agreements to End Conflicts,” the meeting brought together prominent African peace negotiators, including Mohamed Ibn Chambas and  Ibrahim Gambari, to share their experiences and explore strategies for sustainable conflict resolution.

Discussions centred on the role of regional and international actors in fostering long-term peace across the continent.

In his presentation, Touray drew on ECOWAS’s decades-long experience in mediating conflicts in West Africa, citing interventions in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, and The Gambia as case studies.

He highlighted several recurring challenges, including the perception of peace as a threat to power, the hesitance of conflict actors to commit fully to agreements, and the critical need to reassure all parties while enforcing consequences for non-compliance.

“Reassuring all parties involved and having a trusted institution to guarantee the peace agreement are essential components of any successful peace process,”  Touray stated.

Mohamed Ibn Chambas, reflecting on the success of peace negotiations in Mozambique, stressed the importance of involving youth and women in peace processes.

He called for harmonized approaches, proactive conflict prevention, and the establishment of early-warning systems, with an emphasis on the neutrality and impartiality of mediators. Ibrahim Gambari expressed concern over the disproportionate allocation of resources toward conflict resolution rather than prevention.

“It is crucial to address the root causes of conflicts and invest in quality mediators to achieve lasting peace,” he said.

The meeting also unveiled insights from an upcoming joint research publication by Chatham House and UNDP, titled “Lessons Learned.” The research analyzes Africa’s peace processes and identifies key factors influencing the sustainability of peace agreements.

The discussions took place against the backdrop of the AU’s “Silencing the Guns” initiative, a flagship component of Agenda 2063 aimed at ending conflict on the continent.

Despite ongoing efforts, the number of active state conflicts in Africa has nearly doubled over the past decade, rising from 15 in 2013 to 28 in 2023.

Participants at the event noted that stronger collaboration between the AU, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and international partners is essential to fostering peace in Africa’s post-conflict transitions.

They called for more proactive measures to prevent conflicts, build inclusive peace processes, and ensure justice for all stakeholders involved.