West Africa: Ecowas Honours Ecomog Commanders, Fallen Journalists in Liberia, Sierra Leone War

What the report says

The Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS, has honoured former commanders of its Monitoring Group, known as ECOMOG, for their role in helping restore peace in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea-Bissau, according to Daily Trust via AllAfrica. The ceremony took place in Abuja on Thursday during the launch of a book on ECOWAS peacemaking in West Africa, which was compiled by Prof. Amadu Sesay.

The report says the recognition came more than two decades after the conflicts ended. Liberia’s civil war lasted from 1990 to 1997, Sierra Leone’s conflict ran from 1997 to 2000, and Guinea-Bissau experienced unrest in 1999. Those honoured included several senior military officers from across West Africa who served in ECOMOG operations.

ECOWAS also paid tribute to journalists who died covering the Liberian war, including Nigerian reporters Kreed Imodibie of the Guardian and Tayo Awotusin of the Champion, along with veteran freelancer Lindsay Barret and Ghanaian journalist Ben Asante. They received what the report calls the Symbolic Peace of the Rose Award.

Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Gen. Christopher Musa, said the sacrifices made in the conflicts should not be forgotten and argued that West Africa and the wider continent should remain united. More broadly, the event reflects continuing efforts in the region to commemorate peacekeeping missions and the civilian cost of conflict.