Sierra Leone to Host ECOWAS Confab on Autonomous Weapons Systems.
By: Umaru Kanu .
The Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation will be hosting an
ECOWAS Regional Conference in Freetown on 17-18 April 2024 focused on advancing the global
conversation on fashioning a legally binding instrument on the use of autonomous weapons.
It is evident that there
is a growing call to finalise negotiations on a legally binding instrument to regulate autonomous
weapons systems, particularly the latest UN Secretary-General’s policy brief on a new agenda for
peace launched in July 2023 that calls for negotiations to be concluded by 2026. Following this,
Sierra Leone along with a group of like-minded champion countries drafted and tabled the UN
General Assembly resolution 78/241 on autonomous weapons that was adopted after 152 countries
voted in favour on 22 December 2023.
The resolution recognizes the “serious challenges and
concerns” raised by “artificial intelligence and autonomy in weapons systems,” and supports the
UN Secretary General’s call by creating a process for all states to submit their views and suggest
pathways towards the launch of international negotiations.
Sierra Leone’s active participation in regional and international forums, coupled with its
commitment to upholding international agreements, including the Arms Trade Treaty in 2021, has
been hailed by many countries. The conference, occurring at the onset of Sierra Leone’s tenure as
an elected member in the non-permanent category of the UNSC for the first time since 1971 under
the leadership of His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, is an opportunity for Sierra Leone
to advocate for a multilateral rules-based world order to advance global peace and security
“Drawing from our experience, which mirrors the experiences of many African countries that have
suffered and continue to suffer the scourge of armed violence and internal disturbances due to
inadequate regulation of international weapons systems, Sierra Leone has become a champion
country advocating for the effective implementation of national, regional, and international
weapons control efforts,” notes Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr.
Musa Timothy Kabba.
With the theme, Peace and Security Aspect of Autonomous Weapons Systems: an ECOWAS
Perspective on a path forward towards the negotiation process of a legally binding instrument, the initiative for the conference was spearheaded by Sierra Leone’s Permanent Mission in Geneva .
The Mission sucessfully secured funding for the event paving the way for critical delibrations on the pressing issues sorrounding autonomous weapons systems within ECOWAS Framework.
The development of autonomous weapons has been described as the third major revolution in warfare , following gunpowder and nuclear weapons and will have profound consequences for all of humanity.
Beyond military use ,there is a concern that terrorists and criminals nonstate actors may employ autonomous weapons to create mayhem and undermine state security.
African states with weak security infrastructure are particularly vulnerable.
International Regulations governing the development and use of autonomous weapons are currently lacking.
The high level conference in Freetown will be organized in collaboration with the Freetown-based Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law that will provide logistical support to the Government of Sierra Leone.
Serving as a platform for candid discussions among ECOWAS members States and observers, the conference will delve into the implications of autonomous weapons on global security, human rights and International humanitarian law.
The Objective is to encourage Member States to prioritize human control and generate momentum towards a common position on an international agreement for the regulation of these weapons.
This most anticipated conference will convene senior government officials from member States, heads of multilateral and regional organizations and field experts .
This conference will showcase the country’s leadership and commitment to regional global peace and security.
