The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) re-elected President Bola Tinubu as the Chairman of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government at its 65th Ordinary Session on Sunday in Abuja.
Tinubu’s mandate was extended following the decision of leaders of ECOWAS to ensure continuity and consistency in meeting targets on security, reconciliation, and development.
The Nigerian leader was first elected to the position in Guinea-Bissau on July 9, 2023.
In his acceptance speech, the president said he would focus on consolidating the values of democracy and upholding the interest of the regional body, which would clock 50 years in 2025.
I have accepted to continue the service to the great members of ECOWAS and the great minds that are committed to democratic values and our journey in the region.
I will continue to serve our interests and build on democratic values and the structure that we inherited,’’ Tinubu said.
The ECOWAS chairman subsequently appointed the President of Senegal, Mr Bassirou Faye, and the President of Togo, Mr Faure Gnassingbé, as Special Envoys to Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Republic.
I have appointed the President of Senegal, Mr Bassirou Faye, to become our Special Envoy to Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Republic, along with the President of Togo, Mr Faure Gnassingbé.
They will work round-the-clock with our brothers in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger Republic, and coordinate with me and the ECOWAS Commission, where necessary.
The military truncated democracy in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger Republic in the recent past.
In Mali, the military seized power in August 2020 and failed to deliver on a promise to hold elections in February 2021, prompting sanctions from ECOWAS.
Colonel Assimi Goïta, the current military ruler assumed office on May 28, 2021 having forced out an interim civilian government and taking over power.
In Burkina Faso, Burkinabé soldiers ousted President Roch Kaboré in January 2022; dissolved the government and suspend the country’s constitution.
On July 26, 2023, Presidential Guard Commander, General Abdourahamane Tchiani detained President Mohamed Bazoum, and proclaimed himself the leader of a new military junta.
In his acceptance speech, President Tinubu called on Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS to work towards the establishment and sustenance of a regional standby force for the security and the economic advancement of the community.
He emphasized the expediency of a standby force in the face of growing security threats in the region.
President Tinubu advised ECOWAS leaders to leverage on the capabilities of Nigeria’s National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), which had been widely acknowledged as one of the best on the continent.
The president said his government had decided to make the NCTC a regional centre to enable all ECOWAS member states to benefit from capacity building and other related opportunities it offers.
President Tinubu also advised the management of ECOWAS to re-align and reposition its priorities by reducing overheads and setting up in-country steering committees.
Difficult economic conditions and inconsistent payment of financial commitments to ECOWAS have contributed to the current plight.
To ensure that ECOWAS has adequate resources for its programmes and activities, I urge all member states to ensure full compliance with the Protocol on the Community Levy.
Nigeria, under my leadership, is committed to leading by example in remitting its collected levies to the organisation.
Nevertheless, the ECOWAS management must also reduce its overhead expenditures and focus on programmes and activities that directly impact the lives of our citizens.
I am aware of the progress report on the implementation of the ECOWAS Institutional Reforms. I therefore call on the President of the ECOWAS Commission to resume and expedite the conclusion of the second phase of the institutional reforms, aimed at reducing the organisation’s operational costs,’’ Tinubu said.
He had earlier welcomes Senegal’s President Faye as a new member of the Authority.
Allow me to further extend warm congratulations to the government and people of the Republic of Senegal for their steadfastness in the consolidation of democratic governance.
Their recently-concluded presidential election has been widely adjudged as free, fair, transparent, and credible.
This achievement is a testament to our region’s commitment to the principles of democracy, good governance, and the rule of law,’’ Tinubu said.
He said also that the 65th session would review concerns in the region.
We are aware of the enormous challenges, including terrorist activities and violent extremism threatening to spread from the Sahel region towards the coastal states.
The political landscape still remains fragile in some member states, especially those that witnessed unconstitutional changes of government,’’ he noted.
While calling for unity within the community, Tinubu emphasised that to elevate the people from poverty to prosperity, it was imperative for ECOWAS to develop innovative approaches to unleash the region’s vast economic potential.
We must continue to identify and develop partnerships that promote investments in key sectors and promote regional trade.
Furthermore, we must invest in our infrastructure and cultivate a business environment conducive to empowering our communities to stimulate growth and build resilience against external shocks.
Together, we can pave the way for a prosperous future for all of West Africa,’’ the Nigerian leader stressed.
President Tinubu also called for support in re-electing Ambassador Bankole Adeoye as AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security in February 2025.
In his remarks, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Gambia’s Dr Omar Alieu Touray thanked President Tinubu for his purposeful leadership, affirming that ECOWAS should not be defined by conflicts, elections, and coup d’états, but by development.
Touray noted that the exiting of ECOWAS by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger would affect citizens of the countries, and those of citizens of other ECOWAS countries.
This, he explained, would follow the need for visas, and the review of all trade and development agreements, including on-going ECOWAS projects in those countries.
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