President Bola Tinubu is presiding over the 66th Ordinary Summit of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States at the Old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The summit aims to address key issues, including advancing regional economic integration and ensuring institutional stability.
This session comes amid regional tensions following the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from ECOWAS.
These three nations, currently under military rule, have formed the Alliance of Sahel States as an alternative platform, sparking questions about their future relationship with the regional bloc.
ECOWAS leaders are set to review sanctions imposed on the AES nations in response to recent military coups. Discussions will aim to balance diplomatic engagements with ECOWAS’s core commitment to promoting democracy.
The summit will also focus on terrorism in the Sahel, political instability in member states, and plans to expedite transitions to civilian governance in countries under military rule.
The agenda includes accelerating the adoption of the ECO, the proposed single currency for the region, and strengthening intra-regional trade. Leaders will also review the payment of community levies by member states and the implementation of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, which promotes the free movement of people and goods.
A report from Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who was appointed to mediate between ECOWAS and the AES nations during the 65th Ordinary Session, is expected to be presented.
President Tinubu, re-elected as ECOWAS chairman at the last session, continues to champion the bloc’s objectives. Participating countries at this summit include Benin Republic, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
The summit is expected to provide a roadmap for addressing these pressing challenges while fostering regional unity and economic growth.
