ECOWAS Moves to Relocate Key Institutions from AES Countries as Ministerial Committee Meets in Abuja.
By Raymond Enoch
In a decisive step to safeguard regional operations and uphold institutional integrity, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has launched high-level deliberations on relocating its institutions and agencies currently based in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
The Ad-Hoc Ministerial Committee tasked with overseeing the relocation process convened today in Abuja, Nigeria. The meeting marks a critical phase in the community’s response to ongoing political and security challenges in the three member states.
The Committee, led by Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, H.E. Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, reviewed a comprehensive report from the ECOWAS Technical Assessment Committee. The report evaluated the capacities and proposals of member states that have expressed interest in hosting the affected institutions.
Established during the Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers held in Accra, Ghana, in April 2025, the Ad-Hoc Committee is composed of representatives from Cabo Verde, Nigeria, and Togo — nations that remained neutral by not submitting hosting bids. This neutrality is intended to ensure fairness and transparency in the evaluation process.
Present at the meeting were high-ranking ECOWAS officials, including the President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray; Vice-President H.E. Damtien Tchintchibidja; commissioners of the ECOWAS Commission; heads of the institutions affected by the relocation; and members of the Technical Assessment Committee.
“The relocation process is not just administrative,” said Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu. “It is a strategic move to protect our institutions, ensure continuity of service, and maintain the credibility and effectiveness of ECOWAS in delivering its mandate.”
The discussions held in Abuja are expected to culminate in concrete recommendations that will be presented to the Council of Ministers in the coming weeks, guiding the final decision on where the institutions will be relocated.
With the political landscapes in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger remaining volatile, ECOWAS is taking proactive measures to reinforce its resilience and adaptability, ensuring that regional cooperation continues uninterrupted.
