World: Report of the Secretary-General on the activities of the United Nations Office for West Africa (S/2014/945)

I. Introduction

1. In a letter dated 23 December 2013 ( S/2013/759 ), the President of the Security Council informed the Secretary-General of the Council’s concurrence with my recommendation to extend the mandate of the United Nations Office for West Africa (UNOWA) until 31 December 2016, and requested that I report to the Council every six months on the implementation of the mandate.

2. The present report covers the period from 1 July to 31 December 2014. It provides an overview of developments and trends in West Africa and outlines the activities undertaken by UNOWA in the areas of good offices, enhancing sub regional capacities to address cross-border and cross-cutting threats to peace and security, and promoting good governance, respect for the rule of law, human rights and gender mainstreaming. It also outlines the efforts of UNOWA in engaging regional and subregional organizations, in particular the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Mano River Union, in order to promote peace and stability in West Africa.