BY ADAMA CONTEH
Government of Sierra Leone announced on Thursday, 29th February 2024, that they will be hosting an ECOWAS Regional conference in Freetown on 17th-18th April 2024. The conference aims to advance the global conversation on fashioning a legally binding instrument concerning the use of autonomous weapons.
The government emphasized the growing call to finalize negotiations on such an instrument, particularly following the UN Secretary-General’s policy brief on a new agenda for peace launched in July 2023, which calls for negotiations to conclude by 2026. Sierra Leone, along with a group of like-minded champion countries, drafted and tabled the UN General Assembly Resolution 78/241 on autonomous weapons, which was adopted after 152 countries voted in favor on 22nd December 2023. This 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 toward the launch of international negotiations.
The release highlighted Sierra Leone’s active participation in regional and international forums, along with its commitment to upholding international agreements, including the Arms Trade Treaty in 2021, which has been praised by many countries.
The conference, occurring during 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, provides an opportunity for Sierra Leone to advocate for a multilateral rules-based world order to advance global security.
The release also pointed out that Sierra Leone, drawing from its experience of suffering from arms violence and international disturbances due to inadequate regulation of international weapons systems, has become a champion country advocating for the effective implementation of national, regional, and international weapons control efforts.
With the theme “Peace and Security Aspect of Autonomous Weapons System; an ECOWAS perspective on a path towards the negotiation process of a legally binding instrument,” the conference was initiated by Sierra Leone’s permanent Mission in Geneva, which secured funding for the event. The conference aims to facilitate critical deliberations on the pressing issues surrounding autonomous weapons systems within the ECOWAS framework.
Autonomous weapons are described as the third major revolution in warfare, following gunpowder and nuclear weapons, with profound consequences for all humanity. Beyond military use, there are concerns that terrorists and criminal non-state actors may employ autonomous weapons to create mayhem and undermine state authority, particularly in African states with weak security infrastructures. Current international regulations governing the development and use of autonomous weapons are lacking.
The high-level conference in Freetown will be organized in collaboration with the Freetown-based Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law, which will provide logistical support to the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL). It will serve as a platform for candid discussions among ECOWAS Member States and observers, delving into the implications of autonomous weapons on global security, human rights, and international humanitarian law.
The conference’s objective is to encourage member states to prioritize substantive human control and generate momentum towards a common position on an international agreement for the regulation of these weapons. It will convene senior government officials from member states, heads of multilateral and regional institutions, leading civil society organizations, and field experts, showcasing the country’s leadership and commitment to regional and global peace and security.
