ECOWAS Security Sector Reform and Governance Training Workshop in SENEGAL

ECOWAS Security Sector Reform and Governance Training Workshop:

Capacity Development of Stakeholders and Institutions in the Security Sector and Relevant Oversight Realms.

Senegal – (Dakar) 14th – 16th March 2022

From the 14th – 16th March 2022, the African Security Newtork (ASSN), facilitated a training workshop at Le Ndiambour Hôtel et Résidence in Dakar, organized through the ECOWAS Peace and Security Architecture and Operations Project (EPSAO), co-funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation (BMZ), the objective of this workshop was to promote a better understanding of Security Sector Reform and Governance among core security sector stakeholders. This third workshop marks the end of the first phase of regional trainings to be implemented within the ECOWAS member states.

Speaking at the opening ceremony Mr. Malick Diouf, Foreign Affairs Advisor Africa & African Union and the Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad, represented the Minister, warmly welcomed participants to the training workshop, Mr Diouf highlighted that the adoption by Member States of the ECOWAS SSRG Policy Framework of 2016, takes into consideration new and emerging conflicts, it also addresses the democratization process in ECOWAS, promotes a regional platform for advocacy and provides guidance on cooperation between and among Member States, on the otherhand, it displays the commitment of ECOWAS without compromising the sovereignty of Member States. Mr Diouf further stressed that this training workshop will enable a unified approach to the security sector within ECOWAS and especially in Senegal.

Representing the European Union Delegation to Senegal, Mr. Christoph Pelzer, congratulated the ECOWAS Commission for its adoption of the SSRG Policy Framework, that serves as a cornerstone and normative driver of change following its endorsement by the ECOWAS Heads of States in June 2016. It demonstrates the region’s commitment to security and peace. He emphasized the role of the EPSAO Project in promoting the Policy Framework on SSRG along with the respective toolkits and noted that the training is timely as it comes at the moment when the region is experiencing evolving security challenges. The subsequent launch of the ECOWAS Policy Framework for Security Sector Reform and Governance in Abuja on the 9th of November 2021, was a momentous step towards deepening regional integration and the harmonization of policy frameworks in Member States. Mr. Pelzer reiterated that the European Union hopes that the adoption of the SSRG Policy Framework will positively improve the lives of West Africans, as well as generate best practices of improving SSR programming in the region.

Opening Ceremony with representatives from (L-R) ASSN, MOFA Senegal, EU Delegation Senegal and the GIZ EPSAO project.

Representing the African Security Sector Network (ASSN), Chair of the ASSN, Dr Niagalé Bagayoko, commended ECOWAS and thanked the European Union and the GIZ- EPSAO Project for the persistent support towards deepening the implementation and domestication of the ECOWAS SSRG Policy Framework. Dr Bagayoko highlighted the history of ASSN’s contribution in enriching the SSR process and well as underlined the current emerging conflicts the region is confronted with, she spoke on how the solutions to security issues can only come from Africans, and that this kind of seminar can increase the national experience of stakeholders and be beneficial to both national stakeholders and the resource persons.

Senegalese participants during a panel discussion on day three of the workshop.