Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 28 January 2015: The African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the United Nations Office for West Africa (UNOWA) will work closely with Member States to ensure peaceful elections and defeat terrorism in West Africa.

African Commission Chairperson, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, and Special Representative and Head of UNOWA, Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas have agreed when they met on the margins of the 24th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

They discussed issues around elections and democratic processes in West Africa, as well as threats to peace and security. They agreed on the urgent need for a regional approach to fight and defeat Boko Haram before it potentially spreads. Both look forward to concrete decisions to come out from the 24th Summit, when the issue will be a key item on the agenda.

JEE/