West Africa Sends the Message that the Region will Uphold Democratic Principles : ACM Interview with Dr Sunmolu Peters - Interviews With Experts - Informed Insights

The Gambian people's democratic triumph over a dictator who sought to overturn their will, as expressed in a December 2016 election he refused to recognise, was made possible by the diplomatic initiatives and military intervention of the regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The bloc's prestige was burnished by the bloodless ousting of Yahya Jammeh. To discuss this moment in history, ACM spoke with Dr Sunmolu Peters, who worked as an advisor to the ECOWAS Secretariat with regards to the military alliance between Francophone members of ECOWAS. Dr Peters also assisted in the implementation of mechanisms of conflict prevention and management. He has been an advisor to the Nigerian government on various policy issues, and has worked in Nigeria's South West region to advanceconflict mediation techniques.