ECOWAS President Joins 2025 Parliament Ordinary Session ,Urges Stronger Integration, Speaks on 50th Anniversary. By Raymond Enoch

The 1st Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament for 2025 commenced in Abuja on Tuesday in Abuja Nigeria with a call for unity and resilience, as the region grapples with significant political and institutional shifts. H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, was among the distinguished leaders present, signaling the utmost importance of the session.

In a ceremonious opening attended by members of the 6th Legislature, heads of ECOWAS institutions, diplomatic representatives, and strategic partners, new parliamentarians from Senegal and Guinea-Bissau were officially sworn in—underscoring the Parliament’s evolving composition.

President of the ECOWAS Parliament, H.E. Mrs. Hadja Memounatou Ibrahima, in her address, reflected on the 25-year journey of the regional legislative body and emphasized the pressing need for reinforced integration and cooperation. “As we approach the silver jubilee of the ECOWAS Parliament this November, “we must renew our commitment to the ideals of regional solidarity and democratic governance,” she urged.

Dr. Touray followed with a sobering reminder of the session’s context, highlighting two pivotal developments: the unprecedented withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from ECOWAS, and the forthcoming 50th anniversary of the organization. “Our community is at a defining moment. While we celebrate five decades of achievement, we must confront the fractures that threaten our unity,” he stated.

The session sets the tone for a critical year of reflection and strategic repositioning for ECOWAS, as the region balances celebratory milestones with complex geopolitical challenges.