West African Leaders Converge on Abuja, Chart United Stand on Democracy, Security, and Shared Prosperity. By Raymond Enoch
West African leaders gathered at Nigeria’s State House, Abuja, on Sunday, 14 December 2025, for the 68th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a summit widely regarded as pivotal to the region’s political stability, democratic future, and development trajectory.
Opening the high-level meeting, Nigeria, as host member state, reaffirmed its steadfast commitment to the founding ideals of ECOWAS—regional solidarity, collective security, and shared prosperity. Speaking on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima framed West Africa not as a coincidence of borders but as a community forged by history, culture, and shared memory. He stressed that while differences among member states are inevitable, they must never erode fraternity nor weaken the foundations of the Community.
The Abuja summit brought together Heads of State and Government, Foreign Ministers, senior ECOWAS officials, representatives of the African Union (AU), the United Nations (UN), international financial institutions, and members of the diplomatic corps, underscoring the strategic importance of ECOWAS as a cornerstone of regional integration and stability in Africa.
Across the plenary hall, a strong consensus emerged on the urgency of collective action. Leaders warned that terrorism, violent extremism, transnational organised crime, climate-induced shocks, food insecurity, irregular migration, and economic fragility represent interconnected threats that transcend national borders. Speakers emphasized that no single country can confront these challenges alone, reinforcing the necessity of a coordinated regional response anchored in solidarity and shared responsibility.
A dominant and unifying theme of the summit was the defence of democratic governance. Leaders strongly condemned recent unconstitutional developments in parts of the region, notably the political crisis in Guinea-Bissau and the attempted disruption of constitutional order in Benin. ECOWAS was widely commended for its swift, coordinated, and principled response, combining preventive diplomacy with the activation of regional security and political mechanisms. The interventions reaffirmed the bloc’s zero-tolerance stance on military takeovers and democratic backsliding, signalling a renewed resolve to protect constitutional order across the sub-region.
In his address, the Chair of the ECOWAS Authority and President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, His Excellency Julius Maada Bio, described the 68th Ordinary Session as a defining moment in the life of the Community, coming as ECOWAS approaches five decades of existence. He called on leaders to draw strength from the organisation’s legacy while boldly reforming its institutions to meet contemporary realities, particularly in peace and security, governance, and inclusive economic growth.
President Bio stressed that ECOWAS must remain people-centred, credible, and responsive, noting that the survival and relevance of the Community depend on its ability to deliver peace, opportunity, and dignity to West African citizens, especially the youth.
As deliberations continued behind closed doors, the Abuja summit projected a clear message: despite internal strains and external pressures, ECOWAS remains determined to stand as a united force for democracy, stability, and development. The 68th session not only reaffirmed the Community’s core values but also set the tone for a renewed collective resolve to safeguard West Africa’s shared future.
For many observers, the gathering marked more than another statutory meeting—it signalled a moment of reflection and recommitment, positioning ECOWAS to confront its challenges with unity, purpose, and an unwavering belief in the power of regional cooperation.
