United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel

The United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) is a Dakar-based special political mission managed by the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), which engages in preventive diplomacy, good offices and political mediation and facilitation in countries in West Africa and the Sahel. The Office also assists sub-regional institutions and States in strengthening their capacities in these areas, as well as in addressing cross-border and cross-cutting threats to peace and security. It promotes good governance, respect for the rule of law, human rights and the mainstreaming of gender in conflict prevention and conflict management initiatives.

UNOWAS works closely with other UN entities and several regional and international partners - such as Economic Community of West African States, Mano River Union, Lake Chad Basin Commission, Gulf of Guinea Commission, Group of Five for the Sahel and African Union - to promote an integrated approach to conflict prevention and regional issues, including terrorism and violent extremism, transnational organized crime, drug-trafficking, other illicit forms of trafficking, and maritime insecurity.