Over the past 10 years the number of conflicts in West Africa has dropped. This is partly due to the economic progress and the improved regional corporation. For the last five years Denmark has supported the establishment of regional institutions promoting peace and security in Africa. Denmark has contributed by providing Africa with tools for conflict prevention and tools for taking leadership conflict resolution. ECOWAS has been taking leadership in the ending of conflicts e.g. in Liberia, Sierra Leone and the Ivory Coast. ECOWAS is playing an important role in the current conflicts in Niger and Guinea.Minister of Development, Ulla Tørnæs:“Throughout the years ECOWAS has showed leadership by participating in concrete conflict resolution and has participated in peace settlements between fighting parties. Thus ECOWAS has cleared the way for EU and UN leading them to follow the African track. It is my firm believe that a conflict is more likely to be settled if the African organisations participate actively. In this spirit Denmark has supported ECOWAS for the past 5 years through the Africa for Peace-Programme and we wish to continue and expand your partnership for the next 4 years.”The programme supports conflict resolution and God Governance and it contributes to the promotion of adherence to fundamental legal principles and transparency. In addition Denmark supports conflict warning systems and contribute to making ECOWAS more robust and enhancing its effectiveness. The programme also supports the follow-up of the member states’ obligations to the FN Resolutions 1325 and 1880 concerning women’s rights and roles in conflicts.In addition a 25 million DKK grant has been established for the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) in Accra. The grant is also part of the Africa for race Programme and will support KAIPTC in carrying out its mandate as a regional peacekeeping training institution and fulfil its role under the ECOWAS The immediate objectives of the KAIPTC Component of the Africa Programme for Peace, phase 2 is the operationalisation of the ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework, ECPF, through realisation of the KAIPTC Strategic Plan 2010 – 2013.
