As part of the strategic cooperation between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) for peace, security, governance and sustainable development in West Africa, Her Excellency Ms Kinza Jawara-Njai, ECOWAS Permanent Observer to the United Nations, and Mr Kalilu Totangi, representing the President of the ECOWAS Group to the United Nations, met with Mr Leonardo Santos Simão, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), on Friday, 13 February 2026, in New York.
Discussions focused primarily on the renewal of UNOWAS’ mandate, which expired on January 31, 2026, and is currently being reviewed by the UN Security Council, and the current socio-political and security situation in West Africa, including developments in regional dynamics and the importance of sustained preventive diplomacy and coordinated engagement.
