ABUJA, Nigeria — August 24, 2026 — The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the United Nations have expanded their cooperation on arms control and disarmament as West Africa continues to confront the security threats posed by illicit weapons, terrorism and organized crime.
ECOWAS announced that it has signed an addendum updating its 2009 cooperation agreement with the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) and the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC).
The updated framework broadens cooperation in several important areas, including disarmament, arms control, non-proliferation and conflict prevention.
Under the agreement, ECOWAS and its UN partners will work together on technical assistance, professional training, policy development and information-sharing. The framework also provides for regional consultations and joint programs designed to strengthen the ability of West African countries to address weapons-related security challenges.
Tackling a Cross-Border Security Problem
The movement of illicit small arms and light weapons remains particularly concerning because weapons can cross national borders and fuel conflicts, terrorism, organized crime and other forms of instability.
No single West African country can effectively address that challenge alone. Cooperation between governments, ECOWAS and international institutions is therefore an important part of strengthening regional security.
The agreement could also help ECOWAS member states improve coordination of national arms-control policies and strengthen the institutions responsible for preventing the illegal movement and proliferation of weapons.
Arms Control and Regional Integration
The initiative has implications beyond national security. A safer West African region can make it easier for people, businesses and goods to move across borders and can support investment and economic development.
Security is therefore closely connected to the broader ECOWAS regional integration project. Free movement and increased cross-border trade depend partly on governments being able to cooperate against threats that operate across those same borders.
By strengthening its partnership with the United Nations on arms control, ECOWAS is seeking to build a more coordinated regional response to a problem that affects communities throughout West Africa.
The next test will be implementation—turning the updated cooperation framework into training, stronger institutions, better information-sharing, and practical measures that reduce the flow of illicit weapons across the region.