ECOWAS ELECTION OFFICERS RETREAT CONCLUDES AHEAD OF FORTHCOMING ELECTIONS TO UNITED NATIONS ORGANS.

The ECOWAS Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations successfully convened a Retreat of Election Officers of ECOWAS Member States from 22 to 24 May 2026, aimed at strengthening coordination, alignment and engagement in support of ECOWAS candidatures ahead of forthcoming elections to United Nations organs.

The retreat brought together Election Officers from ECOWAS Member States and provided a timely platform for technical consultations on ECOWAS candidatures and coordination approaches in preparation for forthcoming elections to United Nations organs.

In her opening remarks, the Permanent Observer of ECOWAS to the United Nations, Ambassador Kinza JAWARA-NJAI, underscored the importance of continued coordination and information sharing among Election Officers to support coherent and timely engagement on ECOWAS candidatures in forthcoming elections. She commended the commitment of Election Officers and emphasized the value of sustained collaboration in strengthening the visibility and effective representation of the ECOWAS Group within multilateral processes.

Over the course of the retreat, participants reviewed forthcoming elections to United Nations organs, exchanged views on candidatures and outreach efforts, and considered practical ways to strengthen coordination within the ECOWAS Group and engagement with other regional groups.

The retreat concluded with a common understanding on key issues and follow-up actions and reaffirmed the commitment of Election Officers to continued coordination and collaboration in support of ECOWAS candidatures and effective engagement within the United Nations system.