UNOWAS AND ECOWAS HELD TALKS ON HERDERS/FARMERS CONFLICT
MIDDLE BELT NIGERIA
herdsmen&farmers
United Nation Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Institute for Security Studies (ISS) held talks on herders/farmers conflict in North Central Nigeria/Middle Belt. The issue topped the agenda of a consultative workshop held between 10th -11th of February, 2020 at Stonehedge Hotel in Abuja, Federal Capital territory.
The stakeholders resolved to produce a document on management of herders/farmers conflict in West Africa by way of developing best practices from traditional dispute resolution mechanism.
Nathaniel Awuapila, one of the participants says UNOWAS has a mandate for preventive diplomacy, good offices, political mediation and facilitation efforts in West Africa and the Sahel. UNOWAS consolidates peace and democratic governance in countries emerging from conflict or political crises.
In addition, UNOWAS partners the African Union, ECOWAS, the Mano River Union, the Lake Chad Basin Commission, the Gulf of Guinea Commission, the G5 Sahel that is the five Sahel countries: Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger, as well as other regional partners to support regional solutions to cross-cutting threats to peace and security, such as terrorism and violent extremism, transnational organized crime, piracy and maritime insecurity.
UNOWAS assists regional institutions and member states to enhance their capacities to promote good governance and respect for the rule of law, human rights and the mainstreaming of gender in conflict prevention. The organisation leads the implementation of the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel, endorsed by the Security Council in June 2013.
