Tinubu Presides Over 66th ECOWAS Summit In Abuja
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President Bola Tinubu on Sunday, presided over the 66th Ordinary Summit of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The meeting took place at the Old Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The ongoing session is expected to focus on advancing regional economic integration and ensuring institutional stability, among other issues.
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This summit takes place amidst regional concerns, following the announcement of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger’s decision to withdraw from ECOWAS.
The three erstwhile member-states, who are absent at the ongoing meeting and under military rule, have aligned under the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), utilising this new platform to reshape their relationship with the regional bloc.
This alignment raises questions about their future status within West Africa.
The 66th Ordinary Summit will also review the organisation’s sanctions imposed on the three AES nations following recent military coups, with the goal of balancing diplomatic efforts with its fundamental commitment to promoting democracy.
The meeting is also expected to address pressing issues such as tackling the surge of terrorism in the Sahel and political instability in member states.
The meeting will discuss accelerating the adoption of the ECO, ECOWAS’s proposed single currency, and bolstering trade among member states.
The leaders of the regional bloc will also review progress and timelines in countries under military rule, with emphasis on shorter transitions to civilian governance.
During its last summit, President Tinubu appointed Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal to mediate between ECOWAS and the trio of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso.
