By: Sainabou Sambou
The Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) and the ECOWAS Mission in The Gambia on Friday joined forces to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) at McCarthy Square in Banjul, placing the growing contributions of women in peacekeeping operations at the heart of the commemoration.
The event highlighted West Africa’s rising influence in global peace and security efforts, particularly through the increased participation of female personnel in United Nations peacekeeping missions.
Miatta Lily French, Head of the ECOWAS Mission in The Gambia, delivered a powerful address emphasizing the transformative role of West African women in international peacekeeping. She revealed that African women now constitute half of all female personnel serving in UN peacekeeping operations worldwide — a remarkable increase from just 20 women in 1957 to over 6,000 today.
“Women from West Africa are serving as military officers, police personnel, and civilian experts in missions across the region, including in Mali and the Central African Republic,” French said. “Their participation marks a major shift from exclusion to active leadership and representation in global security efforts.”
French stressed that women peacekeepers bring unique advantages to operations, especially in engaging with local communities in conservative or conflict-affected areas. Their ability to communicate with women and children in ways that male personnel often cannot has proven crucial in preventing gender-based violence, supporting survivors, and building trust among civilians.
“The presence of women peacekeepers has significantly improved civilian protection and strengthened intelligence gathering, making peacekeeping missions more effective overall,” she added.
Beyond frontline duties, West African women are making vital contributions in legal systems, logistics, healthcare, and administration within missions. Their work supports the rule of law, strengthens justice systems, combats organized crime, promotes human rights, and advances democratic governance — all essential elements for achieving long-term peace and stability in post-conflict societies.
French described these women as trailblazers in a traditionally male-dominated field, noting that many have earned international recognition for their leadership and innovative approaches. She said they continue to serve as powerful role models, inspiring more women to pursue careers in the security sector.
The ECOWAS official further noted that the contributions of women peacekeepers align closely with global commitments to gender equality, particularly United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.
The commemoration served as both a celebration of ECOWAS’s five decades of regional integration and a call to action for continued investment in gender-inclusive approaches to peace and security across West Africa.
