67th Session of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government Ends, Takes Position on AES– Prioritize Collective Approach to Security– Dialogue with Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso– Elects New Chair
By Raymond Enoch.
In a defining moment for the region, the 67th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) concluded on Saturday in Abuja, Nigeria, with bold resolutions aimed at securing peace, deepening integration, and charting a way forward amidst the region’s evolving geopolitical landscape.
One of the summit’s key outcomes was the election of H.E. Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, as the new Chair of the ECOWAS Authority for a one-year term. He succeeds Nigeria’s President, H.E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose tenure was marked by decisive leadership during one of the most turbulent periods in the bloc’s recent history. Tinubu was lauded by fellow leaders for his unflinching diplomacy and steady stewardship.
President Bio’s assumption of the chairmanship signals a renewed push for unity and pragmatic engagement in West Africa. In his acceptance remarks, he emphasized the urgency of cooperation, particularly in countering threats to democracy and security:
“We must unite not only in vision but in action. Peace and prosperity must be the inheritance of our people.”
The summit’s most watched agenda was the response to the formal withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—now operating as the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)—from the ECOWAS bloc earlier this year.
Rather than opting for isolation or sanctions, the Authority adopted a measured stance, affirming its commitment to dialogue with the three nations while reaffirming ECOWAS principles of constitutional order, democracy, and human rights.
To spearhead negotiations, ECOWAS appointed a Chief Negotiator, supported by a Ministerial Troika, to lead talks with AES leadership. The aim: a peaceful resolution and potential reintegration, or at the very least, an orderly disengagement that does not disrupt trade, security cooperation, or regional stability.
With terrorism and violent extremism tightening their grip on parts of the region, the Authority agreed on a reinforced collective approach to security, including fast-tracking the activation of the ECOWAS Standby Force.
Member States pledged deeper cooperation and intelligence-sharing, and the Commission was tasked with convening a high-level meeting of finance and defense ministers to mobilize domestic resources for the anti-terrorism war effort.
Ambassador Baba Kamara, ECOWAS Special Envoy on Counterterrorism, was praised for his continued diplomatic engagements, particularly in Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo—nations increasingly vulnerable to Sahel-based insurgents.
The session spotlighted fragile political transitions in several member states. The Authority expressed satisfaction with Liberia’s post-election transition, urged Guinea to expedite its return to constitutional order by 2025, and called for credible, inclusive elections in Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea-Bissau.
ECOWAS reaffirmed its support for Sierra Leone’s democratic institutions, while also encouraging stakeholders in Guinea-Bissau to maintain consensus and transparency in upcoming polls.
Despite challenges, the Authority noted encouraging economic indicators across the bloc. Leaders renewed their commitment to the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS), calling for the elimination of all tariff and non-tariff barriers along regional corridors.
The Commission was instructed to ensure the full rollout of the SIGMAT platform for goods in transit and to assist member states in developing macroeconomic convergence programs for 2026–2030. The Authority also approved a new Regional Investment Promotion Strategy and encouraged states to mobilize internal revenues and invest in public capital and infrastructure.
The Authority took note of financial arrears by Member State utilities to the West African Power Pool (WAPP) and directed urgent repayments. Ministers of Energy were also tasked to work with the Commission to address gaps in electricity infrastructure and boost the implementation of a regional interconnected power grid.
Amid growing humanitarian concerns, exacerbated by conflict and climate shocks, ECOWAS pledged to strengthen its multi-pronged response. It also endorsed efforts to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Gulf of Guinea through a collective bargaining approach on fisheries agreements.
Recognizing the critical role of regional peace missions, the mandates of the ECOMIG (The Gambia) and ESSMGB (Guinea-Bissau) were extended by 24 and 18 months respectively. Member States were urged to contribute personnel and logistical support to ease pressure on current Troop and Police Contributing Countries.
Following the AES exit, the Authority endorsed the reallocation of ECOWAS institutions from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to other member states—highlighting a commitment to geographical equity and inclusivity in regional governance. Decisions on the future of the West African Health Organisation (WAHO) were deferred pending further consultations.
ECOWAS marked its 50th anniversary during the summit, with speakers hailing the regional bloc’s evolution into one of Africa’s most advanced economic communities. In a reflective address, ECOWAS Commission President Dr. Omar Alieu Touray declared:
“We celebrate five decades of unity, but we must now redefine our purpose for the next fifty years: building an ECOWAS of the people, grounded in peace, prosperity, and shared destiny.”
As the curtain closed on this milestone summit, the leaders of West Africa recommitted to the ideals of unity, resilience, and regional solidarity in the face of unprecedented trials. The next session of the ECOWAS Authority will be convened in December 2025.
