The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Africa Center for Strategic Studies (ACSS) have renewed their commitment to deepen collaboration in addressing regional threats such as insecurity, disinformation, and governance vulnerabilities.
This was the outcome of a high-level meeting between Ms. Amanda Dory, Director of the ACSS, and Her Excellency, Damtien Tchintchibidja, Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission, held at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
The meeting focused on reinforcing partnerships in peacebuilding, strategic leadership, human development, and regional security architecture. Discussions highlighted the urgency of enhancing early warning systems, combating fake news and disinformation, and strengthening resilient governance structures across West Africa.
Ms. Dory reiterated ACSS’s support for ECOWAS’s “One ECOWAS” vision and the organization’s strategic peace and security priorities. She also emphasized the value of leveraging alumni networks and experience-sharing platforms to build capacity among practitioners across Member States.
Vice President Tchintchibidja reaffirmed ECOWAS’s commitment to enhancing the predictive capabilities of the ECOWAS Early Warning System, which is central to preventing and mitigating conflict. The two institutions agreed on key areas of cooperation, including:
Capacity building for ECOWAS and Member State personnel
Strategic leadership development in peace and security
Information sharing and promotion of best practices
Integration of AI and emerging technologies for data-driven decision-making and scenario forecasting
This enhanced cooperation aligns with ECOWAS’s broader goal of fostering sustainable peace, stability, and development across the region.
