News UNOWAS

The United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), in collaboration with the Embassy of Colombia in Senegal, UN WOMEN, the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), and the United Nations…

As part of the activities of the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission (CNMC), Leonardo Santos Simão, in his capacity as President of the Commission, today concluded a working mission to Cameroon and Nigeria. The visit is part of…

As part of continued engagement between the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for…

The Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, Ms. Barrie Freeman, today briefed the Security Council on the latest report of the Secretary-General on the activities of the United…

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for West Africa and the Sahel, Mr. Leonardo Santos Simão, has followed with deep concern the events that occurred on Sunday, 7 December, in Benin…

The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Mr. Leonardo Santos Simão, today concluded a two-day official solidarity visit to Bamako, Mali. This visit, which took…

A high-level dialogue on security sector governance and reform was held in Dakar from 12 to 13 November, bringing together government representatives, international partners, parliamentarians, experts, and civil society…

From 11–13 November, the UN Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) Interagency Group for West Africa and the Sahel, comprising UNOWAS, UNFPA, UNDP and UN Women, held a Regional and Country Offices Learning Forum in Dakar, with…

The United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) and UN Women, in partnership with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) - EPSG , the European Union (EU), GIZ GmbH, Expertise France (EF)-FIAP…

Climate change is not just an environmental threat; it is a deep crisis of (in)justice and security that is destabilizing West Africa and the Sahel. This is the conclusion of a new landmark study published by the United…

At the end of his visit to Côte d'Ivoire from 23 to 29 October 2025, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, Mr. Leonardo Santos Simão, congratulates the people of…