President Bola Tinubu has been re-elected as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of States and Government for another one-year term.
In his acceptance speech, Tinubu pledged to continue serving the region’s interests and building democratic values.
To address the ongoing crisis in the region, Tinubu appointed the Presidents of Senegal and Togo, Bassirou Faye and Faure Gnassingbé, as Special Envoys to engage with Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger Republic, which have withdrawn from the regional bloc.
Faye had earlier vowed to reopen talks with the military juntas, and ECOWAS Commission President Dr. Omar Touray expressed optimism about the mediation efforts, emphasizing the need for the region to stay together.
The ECOWAS leaders also discussed the proposed $2.6bn budget for the subregional standby force to combat terrorism and unconstitutional change of government, with Tinubu urging member states to fulfill their financial commitments.
The regional bloc has been working to reintegrate the junta-led states, with Faye and Gnassingbé tasked with coordinating efforts to bring them back into the fold. Despite the challenges, ECOWAS remains committed to achieving its goals, including the launch of the single regional currency, the ECO, by 2027.
