The ECOWAS Council of the Wise : An Exploratory Assessment

High-Level Panels are significant diplomatic instruments. In the context of the African Union (AU), the AU Panel of the Wise and its regional panels exist as significant actors for the continent's conflict and peace governance. The Economic Commission of West African States (ECOWAS) Council of the Wise (previously the Council of Elders) is required to fulfil an equally important diplomatic and mediation role in West Africa. The contribution commences with a contextualisation of the Council of the Wise as one of the pillars of the ECOWAS peace and security architecture. It then proceeds to analyse and assess the Council of the Wise as an expression of traditional conflict governance, the Council's knowledge production, and operational and normative impact. It also assesses the awareness raising and agenda setting in terms of early warning and preventive diplomacy, electoral assistance and election observation as preventive diplomacy. The Council of the Wise is innovative in conflict resolution and governance. The article concludes by recommending improvements to the Council of the Wise's operations and impact.