ECOWAS leaders meet in Abuja to discuss regional issues and potentially announce a new Chairman as President Tinubu's tenure ends, focusing on reintegrating Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
The ECOWAS Heads of State and Government are gathering at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's tenure as Chairman of the Authority nears its end on July 9, 2024. This marks the 65th Ordinary Summit of the regional leaders.
During this meeting, a new Chairman for the West African regional body may be announced, pending any last-minute changes. The summit, which began around noon, holds significant implications for the leadership and future direction of ECOWAS.
President Tinubu's time as ECOWAS Chairman has faced notable challenges, particularly the military coups in Niger Republic, Mali, and Burkina Faso. Efforts to reintegrate these nations into the regional bloc have so far been unsuccessful. Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, recently expressed frustration over these countries' reluctance to rejoin, despite continuous engagement attempts by ECOWAS.
At the opening ceremony of the 92nd Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers held last week in Abuja, Touray highlighted ECOWAS's efforts to address these issues. Despite these diplomatic efforts, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have not responded positively to invitations to re-engage with the bloc.
Besides leadership matters, the summit aims to address various regional issues, reinforcing ECOWAS's commitment to economic integration and political stability in West Africa. The decisions made during this gathering will shape the bloc's strategies and priorities in the coming year.
