PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

Ambassador Sanders Urges West African Nations to Work Together for Peace and Stability in the Region

Date: April 20, 2009
Venue: ECOWAS Secretariat, Abuja

(L-R) Rear Admiral GJ Jonah, Ambassador Robin Sanders, Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas and Honorable Ademola Seriki | Full size

Ambassador Robin Sanders today (April 20) encouraged West African nations to work together to address conflicts build peace and bridge differences across the region. Ambassador Sanders was speaking at the opening of a four-day strategic seminar on “Security Sector Reform in West Africa” sponsored jointly by ECOWAS and the Washington-based Africa Center for Strategic Studies (ACSS).  

Ambassador Sanders serves as both the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria and the U.S. Permanent Representative to ECOWAS. 

Addressing seminar participants, the Ambassador said that during the next four days they will have not only the opportunity to discuss the future security framework of the region and the continent from governance to maritime issues but will also explore how all partners can work together “to help post-conflict countries make that transition from elections to stability.”  She added that the gathering was significant because it recognizes the importance of regionalization in order to further the political, security, economic, social and development integration of the West African Region.

 “Part of the reason why we are all here today is to ensure that there is continued movement on the things most important to a fully integrated West Africa that include first and foremost cooperation, understanding, coordination, and interoperability and -- last but not least -- respect among the militaries and civilian leadership of this region," Ambassador Sanders emphasized.

The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas gave the keynote address entitled “Mapping Out West Africa’s Security Environment,” while Honorable Ademola Seriki, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defense spoke on the Nigerian military’s international and regional security collaborations and partnerships. 

Other speakers at the opening ceremony were Ambassador William M. Bellamy (Ret.), Director of the Africa Center for Strategic Studies (ACSS), and Rear Admiral GJ Jonah, Commandant of Nigeria’s National Defense College. 

Ambassador Bellamy said the Center’s main goal is to bring individuals together to create and maintain a global network of professionals with a shared commitment to addressing security-related challenges facing Africa.

Follow this link to read the full text of Ambassador Sanders’ remarks.