Peace and security in the WAEMU region: The Committee of Experts takes stock of the situation

The preparatory meeting of experts for the 7th meeting of the High-Level Committee on Peace and Security of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) opened on Monday, July 6, 2026, in Dakar, Senegal. This important three-day meeting (July 6-8) aims to review the files for the meeting of ministers and other members of the UEMOA High-Level Committee on Peace and Security, scheduled for July 10, 2026, in Dakar. The opening ceremony was chaired by the Director of African Integration and Pan-Africanism, Mr. Babacar Ba, representing the Minister of African Integration, Foreign Affairs, and Senegalese Abroad; in the presence of Mr. Iba Mar Oularé, Acting Delegate General for Peace and Security of the UEMOA Commission.

Objective: "to examine all files intended for the meeting of ministers and other members of the High-Level Committee on the WAEMU Peace and Security Project"

The aim here is to assess the state of implementation of the due diligence measures resulting from the 6th meeting of the High-Level Committee on the Peace and Security Project; to analyze the security situation in the member states of the WAEMU; to appreciate the progress report on the implementation of the WAEMU Peace and Security Project and formulate appropriate recommendations; and finally to examine the draft summary of conclusions of the 7th meeting of the High-Level Committee on the WAEMU Peace and Security Project.

"These cases are all of particular importance in the current security context."

In this regard, the Acting Delegate General for Peace and Security of the WAEMU Commission, in his opening remarks, recalled that most of the agenda items had already been examined during the follow-up meetings of the Framework Agreement on Security and Intelligence Cooperation. According to him, these points are all of particular importance in the current security context and, as such, deserve full attention.

Returning to the issues at stake, Mr. Iba Mar Oularé emphasized that the WAEMU Peace and Security Project now serves as a framework for community action on security matters. It strengthens solidarity among member states and allows for the adaptation of the collective response to the rapidly evolving threats.

“Its scope extends beyond the security domain alone, as it contributes to preserving regional integration, protecting populations and creating an environment conducive to sustainable development. In this respect, it remains one of the major institutional responses of the WAEMU to the security challenges facing our sub-region,” he argued.

In this regard, the Delegate General for Peace and Security of the WAEMU Commission reiterated the WAEMU Commission's constant commitment to "pursue and strengthen its actions in favor of establishing a climate of peace, security and stability in our sub-region".

The need for a collective response, based on cooperation, information sharing, conflict prevention and the pooling of efforts in the face of crises

The Director of African Integration and Pan-Africanism, representing the Minister of African Integration, Foreign Affairs, and Senegalese Abroad, stated that this 7th meeting of the High-Level Committee is taking place in a particularly worrying security context. "The WAEMU region is facing increasing vulnerabilities, marked in particular by terrorism, organized crime, illicit trafficking, and socio-political tensions," noted Mr. Babacar Ba.

He adds: “The threats our states face exceed the capacity of each of them to respond individually. That is why the WAEMU has chosen a collective response, based on cooperation, information sharing, conflict prevention and the pooling of efforts in the face of crises.”

In this context, the representative of Minister Cheikh Niang believes that the Peace and Security Initiative is proving to be "an essential political and strategic instrument for building collective resilience." He maintains that "the highest authorities of the Union have never wavered in their firm commitment to providing our people with a peaceful, stable, and hopeful living environment."

In this regard, Mr. Ba invited all participants to demonstrate diligence, rigor and a high sense of responsibility in examining the items on the agenda, in order to formulate recommendations that meet the challenges of the moment and the expectations of our people.

The meeting brought together experts from the ministries in charge of security, experts from the ministries in charge of foreign affairs, experts from the ministries in charge of economy and finance, experts from the BCEAO, the UEMOA Court of Justice, the CCT and the CIP.

It should be noted that the High-Level Committee brings together, at the governmental level, three key ministerial departments: those in charge of Foreign Affairs, Security, and Finance. Major community institutions and bodies also participate, including the BCEAO, the BOAD, the Inter-Parliamentary Committee, and the Court of Justice of the WAEMU.