Report of the Secretary-General on the activities of the United Nations Office for West Africa (S/2011/811)

I. Introduction

1. In its letter dated 20 December 2010 (S/2010/661), the Security Council agreed to extend the mandate of the United Nations Office for West Africa (UNOWA) until 31 December 2013, and requested me to report on the implementation of the revised mandate of UNOWA every six months. The present report covers the period from 1 July to 31 December 2011.

2. The present report provides an overview of national, cross-cutting and crossborder developments in West Africa and outlines the activities undertaken by UNOWA in preventive diplomacy and awareness-raising with regard to emerging threats and challenges to regional peace and stability. It also presents the efforts of the Office to promote synergies at the subregional level in cooperation with the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Mano River Union.